Kabylova, Moldir
(2025)
The illusion of choice: barriers faced by mothers with young children in Kazakhstan in re/entering the labour market: an analysis with the concept of defamilisation.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
This thesis explores women’s experiences when combining motherhood and paid work, and the role that the state, the markets and the family play in this. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of defamilisation in order to explain the extent to which and the way in which three sectors, the state, the labour market and the family, impact the defamilisation of women (Lister, 1994). Mothers of young children, not only in Kazakhstan but in general need support from the state, employers and family (Dugarova, 2016). The state plays a key role not only in ensuring acceptable standards of living for people by decommodifying them from the labour market (Esping- Andersen, 1990; 1999), but it may also provide support to mothers of young children by defamilising them through assistance with childcare and allowing them to have free time to enter paid work (Lister, 1994; Chau and Yu, 2022).
While there is research published on gender inequality in Kazakhstan in terms of gender-based discrimination and wage gender gap they experience (Omarova et al. 2017; Khamzina et al. 2020; Mukhamadiyeva et al. 2019; Bidaishiyeva et al. 2018), there are few if any empirical studies carried out on defamilisation and motherhood penalty in Kazakhstan. This thesis therefore makes an original contribution by filling this gap in research. Through semi-structured focus group discussion and secondary research, it explores whether and how the state, the markets and the family assist or hinder women from (re)entering paid work and their impact on defamilisation. This data was analysed through an interpretive approach and thematic method, and utilising an insider positionality approach (Geene, 2010; Wilson et al, 2022). The data collection for this research took place in December 2021 and May 2022 in Almaty and Turkestan, cities located in South of Kazakhstan. The findings show that despite conservative values and beliefs in the importance of traditional gender roles, a pragmatic rationale for having dual-earner household and women choosing to enter paid work for financial needs prevail. The financial situation in families plays a decisive role in women’s decisions to find paid work and commonly women whose partners earn generously postpone entering the labour market for an indefinite time. The findings also suggest that the state's lack of support for mothers of young children pushes them to seek paid work, but due to difficulties faced there to enter and retain, women remain dependent on their families. The traditional lifestyle of living in multigenerational households mean women are engaged in social exchange with members of extended family and receive support with childcare in return for unpaid domestic services. Therefore, the state, the labour market and the family present a complex environment for mothers of young children engaging in paid work, resulting in a strong pull from the family that ultimately hinders them from being able to maintain an acceptable living standard independently of their families.
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