Barriers to Professionalization: Poverty Cult Traits Among Translators in Türkiye

This study investigates how internalized traits associated with the concept of poverty cult influence the professionalization of translators in Türkiye. Drawing on Neil Inglis’s poverty cult, an adaptation of Oscar Lewis’s culture of poverty theory, and Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of field and habitus, the research examines the impact of structural challenges on the attitudes and behaviors of translators. Data were collected through open-ended survey responses from 237 translators based in Türkiye between January 2022 and January 2023, and the analysis was conducted using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). The findings reveal several prevalent characteristics linked to the poverty cult, including resentment of colleagues’ success, isolationism, cynicism toward institutions, and resistance to professional unity. Although many participants advocate for enhanced regulation, unionization, and greater public recognition, these comments were often articulated in passive language, reflecting a reluctance to take proactive measures. The results suggest that internalized economic marginalization obstructs engagement with professional networks and collective advocacy. To effectively promote professionalization, strategies must directly confront these ingrained dispositions by fostering solidarity, trust, and a shared professional identity. Achieving this requires targeted initiatives from translator associations, educational institutions, and supportive policy frameworks.