Abstract

There is an increasing concern about dangerous and disordered image of city that is identified with the term incivility. This study focuses on incivilities caused by daily encounters with strangers and experiences of incivility in daily life in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Young people around and their attitudes in urban public spaces are discussed to be the main uncivil events in the social realm. In this respect, the aim of the study is to inquire the ways incivility is perceived and experienced within the context of urban public spaces by the Turkish urban youths. A field survey was conducted within a street context. Information was obtained through semi-structured interviews and observation. The results indicated that young people had different meanings and experiences of incivility in the street context and described and explained them dominantly in relation to the social environment. Likewise, gender differences among the youths appear to be influential on perception and experience of incivility.

Key words: Incivility, Turkey urban youth, urban public spaces, urban environments.