THE ETHNIC FACTOR AND INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE: PRACTICES OF WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of the Mothers' Councils at the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (hereinafter - APK) in the formation of gender identity in a multiethnic environment. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of perception and translation of gender roles through the practices of women's civic participation and intergenerational dialogue. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, including conducting two focus groups with written responses (n=20) and subsequent content analysis of the data. The sample included leaders and activists of the APK Mothers' Councils of various ethnicities, as well as representatives of the academic community. The results demonstrate that gender attitudes in Kazakhstan are formed at the intersection of family upbringing, ethnic and cultural affiliation and the activities of civil institutions, including in the structure of the APK. The family remains a key agent of socialization, with the mother's role seen as central. Ethnic specificity significantly influences the models of femininity and masculinity, creating a multi-layered character of gender identity. Mothers' councils perform a hybrid function, acting simultaneously as guardians of cultural traditions and as agents of adapting gender norms to modern challenges. It is concluded that they play a unique role as an institutionalized form of women's civic leadership integrated into public policy. The scientific novelty lies in the consideration of the role of the APK Mothers' Councils as an «assemblage point» between tradition and modernity in the process of identity formation in a multiethnic society.