Gelins Go Online: Social Support and Empowerment on Facebook for Vulnerable Women in Azerbaijan

Abstract

This research contributes to understanding the importance of online social support for populations that experience greater stress and isolation, offering novel opportunities for coping to individuals with limited access to offline sources of support. In the context of Azerbaijan, a patriarchal and patrilocal society, daughters-in-law are a vulnerable and isolated population. This study presents a theoretical framework of social support in the context of vulnerability and isolation as experienced by women in Azerbaijan. Based on observation of a women’s pregnancy and mothering Facebook group, it illustrates different types of social support exchanged online and their implications for coping with stress, reducing isolation, and facilitating empowerment.