CASI Reseach Seminar: Rural Women’s Empowerment in Kyrgyzstan: Opportunities and Bottlenecks

April 13, 2016

April 13, 2016

Speakers:

Dr. Elena Molchanova, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, AUCA
Asel Myrzabekova, PhD Candidate, Bonn Center for International Convention, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, AUCA
Olga Yarova, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, AUCA
Elena Kim, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, AUCA

Abstract: This presentation analyzes women’s empowerment as a practice and as an everyday reality for rural population in the Kyrgyz Republic. Researchers explore ethnographically opportunities and challenges to actions aimed to bringing sustained positive changes to rural populations. The setting we explore is known for its high levels of poverty and harsh climate conditions; however, due to its remoteness it was only in 2014 that an international development program included it into the list of its target areas. The project explicitly aimed at rural women’s economic empowerment that would improve their livelihoods and bring gender equality into the area. The village population is traditionally involved in animal and cattle-breeding while the project introduced new technologies for agricultural crop production assumed to produce better food security and enhance income generation. Early stage of the program revealed positive develop ments for rural women along with some unexpected processes that represent significant scholarly interest. While the outcomes of the study identified a range of areas of positive impacts, including better nutrition and increased income, a concern was identified that specific groups of women such as very poor women, or younger women within extended families or those coming from more religious families are at risks of further disadvantage unless reconsiderations are being made in the policies and programs of rural development. The research team analyzes contradictory issues emerging in primary data such as exclusionary policies and unfair distribution of empowering resources emanating from project requirements for eligibility for participation and an increasing use of religious narratives which prevents many families from using project – proposed poverty reduction technologies.

<< go to news list