Post Soviet Gender Developments in Central Asia
Title: Post Soviet Gender developments in Central Asia
Author: Minakhi Das
Institution: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Email: minakhi.jnu@gmail.com
Abstract:-
The development process affects men and women differently. Modernization of agriculture has altered the division of labour between the sexes, increasing women’s dependent status as well as their workload. Women often lose control over resources such as land and are generally excluded from access to new technology. Due to technological breakthroughs, the role of women in the new international division of labour has become vital as the world economy has assumed truly global proportions. Women in the Third World now carry a double or even triple burden of work as they cope with housework, childcare and subsistence food production, in addition to an expanding involvement in paid employment. Everywhere women work longer hours than men. How women cope with declining status, heavier work burdens and growing impoverishment is crucial to the success of development policies in the Third World. The legacy of decades of Soviet rule still affects the development of the five countries that comprise the Central Asian Republics (CAR) – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Unlike some other countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU), the Central Asian countries did not achieve independence through a broad-based movement with democratic leaders. The transition period since independence in 1991 has been marked by social and economic difficulties as well as political stagnation with dynastic leadership structures in most countries. Soviet rule brought about dramatic socio-political changes which included emancipation of women. Women were freed from the strict religious laws and practices to which they were subjected to, granted equality before law, afforded opportunities for education, and conditions created for them to join the workforce. These steps of the Soviet government enabled
Author: Minakhi Das
Institution: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Email: minakhi.jnu@gmail.com
Abstract:-
The development process affects men and women differently. Modernization of agriculture has altered the division of labour between the sexes, increasing women’s dependent status as well as their workload. Women often lose control over resources such as land and are generally excluded from access to new technology. Due to technological breakthroughs, the role of women in the new international division of labour has become vital as the world economy has assumed truly global proportions. Women in the Third World now carry a double or even triple burden of work as they cope with housework, childcare and subsistence food production, in addition to an expanding involvement in paid employment. Everywhere women work longer hours than men. How women cope with declining status, heavier work burdens and growing impoverishment is crucial to the success of development policies in the Third World. The legacy of decades of Soviet rule still affects the development of the five countries that comprise the Central Asian Republics (CAR) – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Unlike some other countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU), the Central Asian countries did not achieve independence through a broad-based movement with democratic leaders. The transition period since independence in 1991 has been marked by social and economic difficulties as well as political stagnation with dynastic leadership structures in most countries. Soviet rule brought about dramatic socio-political changes which included emancipation of women. Women were freed from the strict religious laws and practices to which they were subjected to, granted equality before law, afforded opportunities for education, and conditions created for them to join the workforce. These steps of the Soviet government enabled
References: Asahi International Symposium, 1985, “Women in a Changing World”, Symposium Secretariat: Tokyo. Gorsuch Anne E., Fall 1996, “Woman is not a man: the culture of gender and generation in Soviet Russia(1921-1928), Slavic Review, vol.55, no.3, p.636-660. Gray, Mark M.; spring2006, “Women and Globalisation: a study of 180 countries (1975-2000), International Organisation, vol.60, no.2, p.293-334. Werner Cynthia Arn, 1997, “Women and the Art of Household Networking in Rural Kazakhstan”, Islamic Quarterly, vol.41, no.1, p.52-68. 122 | Tajikistan | 106 | 0.669 | 1.992 | 1.725 | 1 | (Source: UNDP 2006) (Source: UNDP 2002) Table No (**): Data not available (Source: UNDP 2005)