NEWS

29 July 2006

WOMEN FROM WESTERN AND CENTRAL ASIAN PERSPECTIVES

Different regions of the world are more than just living areas: they are distinguishable from each other in people's attitudes, foundations, concerns, etc. Growing interest in gender issues in Kyrgyzstan has revealed tensions between traditional attitudes towards women in eastern and western cultures.

According to Anatoliy Makarov, Political Science Teacher at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, the greatest value in traditional Central Asian societies is the principle of collectivism. "For Central Asian peoples a respectful attitude towards ancestors and seniors in general is a topic of honor and moral imperative.

Thus, our people trust in customs more than in laws," says Makarov. While the past is important for eastern peoples, western ones in general are more concerned about the present. All people are rivals to each other. Individualism and self-development are of great value. Western society is highly mobile.

Ariana Zalokar of Switzerland, a volunteer and ??BT (Computer Based Tourism) consultant in the Kyrgyz Republic, said that western women had adapted to the western principle of valuing oneself based on work and position while Central Asian women, particularly in the countryside, assessed themselves through more traditional criteria. "Women in Central Asia are under pressure, they follow certain rules and live in a very traditional context," she said.

"In Western countries identity goes through your position: what you do, how much you earn. The reason is that in the West if you're wealthy, then you don't have to work a lot on your identity. If you're poor, people don't give you any credit. In Central Asia if you're poor, people still give you some credit." Deputy Director of Babushka Adoption Charity Foundation Gulasel Nogoibaeva argued that patriarchal Asian culture keeps women out of politics and economics. " The main problems today are local women's low awareness of their rights, strong traditions and stereotypes," said Nogoibaeva.

"For instance, when a bride is stolen, she has to obey in accordance with the traditions. Basically, there is no gender discrimination in our country, but in fact women would rather vote for a male candidate in elections than for a woman. People don't support women's ambitious about politics and social life. It all comes from culture," Nogoibaeva said. Nogoibaeva noted that there are currently no female deputies in the Kyrgyz parliament and business remains a male sphere. "Some women in modern Kyrgyzstan make a career and stay unmarried," she said. "However, without any doubt, the main goal of every Central Asian woman is to have family and kids and stay behind the husband."

Source: Times of Central Asia