The meeting of the International Discussion Club “VISION 3000”, the topic of which was: “Public diplomacy as a tool for strengthening international relations in the context of new economic realities”, was attended by a Master of Law, doctoral student of the Department of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan of the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Chief Consultant of the Human Resources and Information Security Department of the Senate of Parliament Republic of Kazakhstan, Ishanova Assel Kurmangalievna.
Asel Kurmangalievna covered the topic: “At the junction of traditions: the construction of gender identity in a multiethnic space.”
Transformation of gender roles in polyethnic Societies in Central Asia: towards new identities
The multiethnic societies of Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, are undergoing a profound transformation of traditional gender paradigms. This process, initiated by a complex of socio-economic changes, labor migration, the impact of globalization and the purposeful efforts of international organizations, leads to a rethinking of established ideas about masculinity and femininity and the formation of new, hybrid models of gender identity.
Socio-economic factors and role redistribution
Economic transformations in the region have become a key catalyst for changing gender roles. As noted in the World Bank’s analytical article “Challenging Social Norms and Gender Stereotypes: Advancing Women’s Rights as a Catalyst for Economic Growth in Central Asia,” women have become much more actively involved in work, which has affected family dynamics and begun to change the distribution of household responsibilities. However, despite the growing economic activity, structural inequalities persist. For example, the gender pay gap remains significant: in Kazakhstan, women earn an average of 22% less than men, and in Kyrgyzstan — by 25% (World Bank, 2023). This contradiction highlights the complexity of the transformation, in which women’s new economic roles are not always immediately adequately recognized and rewarded.
Education as a driver of change
The most important factor in the transformation is the expansion of women’s access to education. According to the Gender Data Portal of the World Bank, the increase in the educational level of women directly correlates with their growing claims to participate in public and economic life. A striking example is the situation in Tajikistan, where the participation rate of women in the labor force is 31.3%, and 52.8% among men (World Bank Gender Data Portal, 2024). Although the gap is still large, the very fact that the proportion of highly educated women is increasing creates a critical mass for the revision of traditional norms, especially in urban and multiethnic environments where different cultural codes interact.
The multiethnic context and the activities of international organizations
The multiethnic nature of the region’s countries adds specificity to the process. In the context of the interaction of various cultural traditions (Turkic, Slavic and others), gender models become more flexible. Against this background, the programs of international organizations aimed at transforming social norms find special ground. For example, as reported by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), implementation of methodology in Kyrgyzstan Gender Action Learning System (GALS) It has contributed not only to the economic empowerment of women, but also to the redefinition of traditional family roles, encouraging men to participate more actively in the household and parenting (IFAD, 2021). In multiethnic communities, such initiatives often act as a catalyst, activating an internal dialogue between different value systems about the place of men and women.
Formation of new identity models and legal challenges
The result of these factors is the formation of new models of gender identity. Men are increasingly associating masculinity not only with the role of the breadwinner, but also with involved fatherhood and partnership in everyday life. Women, in turn, combine professional fulfillment with family responsibilities, constructing an image of strong, educated, but not breaking with the roots of femininity. This contributes to the formation of more equal relations in the family and society. However, this transformation creates the need for adequate regulatory and legal supportThe result of these factors is the formation of new models of gender identity. Men are increasingly associating masculinity not only with the role of the breadwinner, but also with involved fatherhood and partnership in everyday life. Women, in turn, combine professional fulfillment with family responsibilities, constructing an image of strong, educated, but not breaking with the roots of femininity. This contributes to the formation of more equal relations in the family and society. However, this transformation creates the need for adequate regulatory and legal support. Legislation needs to be developed to ensure equal respect for the rights and freedoms of both women and men, including combating discrimination in the labor market, protecting against domestic violence, and maintaining a work-family balance.
Conclusion
Thus, the transformation of gender roles in the multiethnic societies of Central Asia is a complex, nonlinear process driven by a combination of internal socio-economic changes and external influeThus, the transformation of gender roles in the multiethnic societies of Central Asia is a complex, nonlinear process driven by a com
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