Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)
Space and Culture, India

Research

Cultural Analysis of Student Youth Attitudes toward Gender Roles in the Southern Regions of Kazakhstan

Published 2026-09-26

  • Zhasmin Bazarbay
    • ,
  • Zharkynbek Abikenov
    • ,
  • Serikkhan Zhuzeyev
    • ,
  • Makhpal Syzdykova

Zhasmin Bazarbay
PhD Scholar, Department of Philosophy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 al-Farabi Ave, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan

Zharkynbek Abikenov
Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy and Social and Humanitarian Disciplines, Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, 29A Aiteke bі Avenue, Kyzylorda, 120014, Kazakhstan

Serikkhan Zhuzeyev
Senior Lecturer, Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, 29A Aiteke bі Ave, Kyzylorda, 120014, Kazakhstan

Makhpal Syzdykova
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Social-Humanitarian Disciplines, Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, 29A Aiteke bі Ave, Kyzylorda, 120014, Kazakhstan

Abstract

In modern social sciences and humanities, there is often ambiguity in the interpretation of students' views on gender roles. In particular, the formation of gender values among students in Kazakh society in terms of the urban-rural dichotomy has not been studied empirically enough. Although many studies have emphasised that urbanisation among students from rural areas can weaken traditional views, this position still needs clarification in specific regional and cultural contexts.

Therefore, this study aims to examine students' views on gender norms in southern Kazakhstan through cultural analysis. To achieve this goal, we conducted an empirical assessment of how gender roles affect the value system.

For this, we analysed survey data collected from students living in both urban and rural areas (N=556) and applied the One-Way ANOVA method to examine differences in responses to 14 statements describing gender roles and values.

The empirical results showed no significant differences in the attitudes of urban and rural youth toward gender norms. The residential area factor had a negligible effect on almost all indicators (for example, F (1,554) = 0.229, p = 0.632 for Q1; p = 0.379 for Q8). This finding suggests that the assumption that urbanisation significantly alters young people's attitudes towards gender roles needs to be reconsidered.

The results show that gender norms in Kazakh society are rooted in a shared cultural-axiological foundation, and that the educational system and socialisation processes contribute to changes in young people's values. Therefore, this study provides new empirical insight into cultural studies and aims to explain the transformation of gender norms within broader socio-cultural value systems.

         

 

Keywords

Gender Roles, Survey Research, Student Youth, Cultural Identity, Kazakhstan

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Author Biography

Zhasmin Bazarbay

Zhasmin Bazarbay holds a Master’s degree and is currently a PhD student in Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She completed both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Cultural Studies at the same institution. Her research interests primarily focus on cultural dynamics, philosophy, and the socio-cultural development of youth.

Zharkynbek Abikenov

Zharkynbek Abikenov holds a PhD in Cultural Studies. His research interests focus on gender relations, cultural values, and the transformation of social roles in contemporary Kazakhstani society, with particular attention to cultural analysis, axiological approaches, and youth studies.

Serikkhan Zhuzeyev

Serikhan Zhuzeev is a Senior Lecturer at Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. He holds a PhD in Pedagogy and Methodology of Primary Education, a Master of Humanities in Philology, and Bachelor's degrees in both Journalism and Primary Education. Under the "Bolashak" International Scholarship program, he completed an 11-month fellowship in Educational Management at the University of Reading, UK (2024–2025). His research interests encompass teacher training, ethnopedagogy, youth value orientations, gender studies, digital education, and media. He has published numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science.

Makhpal Syzdykova

Makhpal Syzdykova holds a Candidate of Sociological Sciences degree. As a senior researcher, she has authored 38 scientific works, including prominent publications in Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed journals, 6 articles recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in the Sphere of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, and 3 educational manuals. Her academic excellence was recognised with the Rector’s Grant of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University in 2023.

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