The Turkish government decided to make certain developments in Dalaman because the people always had a tendency to stick on to the old tradition.  This was the beginning of the program of sweeping away the traditions in Dalaman one by one.  The government knew that the state would only be developed and improved by the changing the status of women in Dalaman.

However, men were the dominant force in the society; the authorities knew that a change would only be successful by transforming the status of women here.  Long before 1920, the women of Dalaman enjoyed no rights.  Even marriages did not happen with the bride’s consent. It was moreover a contract with the groom’s family.  In fact, the bride had no voice in the family and she could never speak against her parents.

Divorce was not allowed to the women in Dalaman.  They had no rights to vote.  After the establishment of the republican government, they gave the right to vote for the women in Dalaman, which was the stepping-stone to development.  The authorities also gave certain privileges to the women in Dalaman.  Today, life in Dalaman has become easy and more developed as the women also had the right to attain knowledge. Kurdish farmers who were allowed in Dalaman after the arrival of the republican government mainly influenced life in Dalaman.  The government forced the kurds to abandon their tribal life by accepting the modern living.

Housing varied in Dalaman.  Most of the people live in thatched-roofed cottages with timber from nearby forests.  In rural areas of Dalaman, many people began replacing their old wooden homes with one-storey houses of concrete blocks.  Many villagers in central Dalaman live in flat roofed houses of sun-dried bricks. Life became easier with the arrival of polished stone houses in Dalaman.  Most wealthy people in Dalaman live in luxurious concrete blockhouses on the outskirts of Dalaman.

Middle class city dwellers reside near to the international airport in Dalaman and their houses and three-storey buildings mainly in wooden or concrete.

On describing the life of Dalaman, the food is also important.  Cracked wheat bread and yogurt are the chief foods of most people in Dalaman.  The also eat more of lamb, rice, and aubergine.  Turkish foods are famous for their tasty shish kebab, which consists of pieces of lamb, tomatoes, peppers, onion cooked together on a skewer. 

Family outings and celebrations are the most common form of recreations in Dalaman.  The people also enjoy drinking coffee or tea at a restaurant with a scenic view.  The life becomes colorful in Dalaman also as many spend their leisure time in coffee houses playing the ancient dice game of the backgammon.

Archery, horse riding, soccer and wrestling are a favorite event at festivals and wrestling matches.  Moreover, the life in Dalaman was changed when tourists began to pour in this region.