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Kyrgyz Republic
Women of Kyrgyzstan on the Eve of the 21st Century — Center for Public Opinion Studies and Forecast
Background of the project
Since 1991, the Kyrgyz Republic has experienced massive changes as it replaces the command economy of the former Soviet Union with market-based institutions. As in many other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, the transition has entailed great economic difficulties. Unemployment is rising while state support services and infrastructure have deteriorated. Poverty has increased sharply as the national income has declined. Women and children, particularly in female-headed households, are especially vulnerable to the impact of worsening economic and social conditions.
Many services such as kindergartens and childcare facilities have either disappeared or become scarce. These closures restrict women's availability for paid employment and affect their families' access to education. Deteriorating health services have been accompanied by a rise in maternal mortality rates as well as a reduction in employment opportunities for women in these female-dominated professions.
Male unemployment also places women under increased strain from family and financial pressures leading to higher levels alcohol-related crime and domestic violence. Low salaries also impel women to seek supplementary incomes in second jobs causing further strains on families. The standard of living is falling faster in rural areas than in urban areas where employment opportunities for women are slightly higher.
Project Objectives and Scope
The Center for Public Opinion Studies and Forecast conducted a comprehensive study of the problems of Kyrgyz women for the purpose of promoting the active participation of the population in social change. The opportunity for the interviewees to express their views on women's situations in the new social and economic order offered them the possibility of influencing public policy, administration, and programs directed to improving their status.
The study is based on a stratified random sampling of 3000 women from the nine regions of Kyrgyzstan; eight provinces and Bishkek City. Respondents were chosen to represent both rural and urban residences and the four largest ethnic groups that live in this small country (Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, and various ethnic minorities). Respondents were interviewed by questionnaire to gain insights into the following areas:
- civic and social activities of women
- problems of employment
- poverty
- women's rights and freedoms
- violence in the family and in society
- violence at work
- conditions and problems of raising children
- reproductive health
The report combines the analytic findings of previous studies conducted by the center, data supplied by the National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic and the responses of the national study. It aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the problems and opinions of women in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting women's similarities and differences according to region, age, ethnicity, education, and marital status. An important feature of the study is that it not only collected information about the status of women in Kyrgyzstan, it also asked women for their opinions and evaluations of the state of the new republic and their place in it.
Outcomes of the Project
The report found that social and economic change are still affecting women and that in many instances rural women have felt these effects more severely. Many of the problems women experience can be attributed to the deterioration in state services, to unemployment and low salaries, and to the fragile state of the new economy.
Social and Political Participation
The report found that despite the high levels of education and encouragement of female participation in public life in the Soviet period, women in Kyrgyzstan currently participate at a very low rate in public and political life. A major explanation given by the respondents was lack of confidence in the possibility of effecting social change. Many other women do not understand such activities as part of women's traditional roles. It was noted that information about political events has become more difficult for some women to access as the cost of newspapers increases and as television is not widely available.
Poverty
The expectations Kyrgyz women have for their income levels can vary considerably according to their provinces, educational standards, and ethnic backgrounds. Nevertheless, most respondents felt that poverty had increased dramatically in the country due to the economic transition. More than half the respondents considered their families to be poor, with poverty more prevalent in villages than in cities. Poor people were found to have only 66% of the income needed for average family expenses. The erosion of the industrial and economic links established during the Soviet period has resulted in mass dismissals in the new economy. In many instances women and children are the first to go. Many respondents felt that the Kyrgyz people lacked the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to adapt to the new economic conditions. This has led to a sharp reduction in income in almost all families.
Employment
Low salaries, their irregular delivery, and poor labor conditions have promoted a situation whereby employment does not ensure the financial and material well being of Kyrgyz women. According to the survey, every third woman in Kyrgyzstan is trying to change her place of employment, and one woman in five has additional employment to supplement her income. Employment services have not gained the trust of unemployed women, nor are they well utilized by government and business employers. Women need training in new skills, particularly in business and entrepreneurship as older qualifications become redundant in the new economy. This demand is especially high for rural women and for women with lower levels of education.
Entrepreneurship
Female entrepreneurs have the same problems as males. High tax rates, widespread corruption by government officials, and bureaucratic delays are common complaints. Women also have trouble accessing the initial capital and skills needed to participate in business activities.
Women's Rights
The women of the Kyrgyz Republic are not well informed about their rights although this knowledge increases with a woman's level of education and in relation to her occupation, level of income, ethnicity, and place of residence. Women are under-represented in parliament, in government, and in legal institutions. The overwhelming majority of the respondents were ignorant of the existence of organizations that protect women's rights. Educational institutions were identified as a major source of information about legal and human rights, thus reducing access to education reduces women's knowledge about them. Almost a third of women in the study reported some violation of their rights by state authorities, employers, and employees of law enforcement agencies and medical establishments.
Family Violence
Despite a strong ideology of the high status of Kyrgyz women in the Soviet era, pre-existing patriarchal social norms along with rapidly changing contemporary social relations mean that women are the victims in 75% of cases of family violence. Children and older family members make up a further 19% of victims. Violence against women was difficult to speak about under the Soviet regime and continues to be under-reported. Family violence is present in all social groups, irrespective of level of income, education, employment, age, or marital status. According to the study, the vast majority of incidences of family violence are inflicted by husbands (74%). Most women who seek assistance in relation to family violence go to family and friends. This reflects both lack of knowledge about services as well as a shortage of services, particularly in rural areas.
Raising Children
Priorities about the education of children are changing in Kyrgyzstan in line with social and economic reforms. Values that are important in a market economy are different from those that are important in a Soviet state. Women reported less interest in instilling in their children the values of patriotism, the ability to put society's interests above those of individuals, and conscientiousness at work. They reported that a person's social status is now more likely to be gauged by level of income and education. This causes problems for parents living in poverty as government services for children's health and education have been drastically reduced. Ideologically it is now expected that the primary responsibility for health and education lies with the family and not with the state. For the first time since the Soviet period, the vast majority of Kyrgyz children begin school without a preschool education.
Women's Health
Women experience difficulty in accessing healthcare for various reasons including expense, lack of services and qualified staff, and corruption. As a consequence, women are unwilling to access services important for maintaining their health. Many women also report dietary inadequacies due to the expense and unavailability of foods, especially meat. For women of reproductive ages, these deprivations can have serious implications for their health and the health of their children. Family size appears to be decreasing as a result of both the increased economic burden placed upon families and the lack of affordable health services.
Recommendations
The study recommends that the many problems faced by women in Kyrgyzstan be addressed by a coordinated approach from the state, civil sector, and donor community. Transparency of activities and interactions with various agencies could reduce duplication of some services and could direct much-needed funds to other areas such as NGOs working in support of women. The report also recommends targeted programs to address specific issues such as women's access to training and microcredit for entrepreneurship, increased state support for early childhood education, and legislation to protect women's rights. The women of Kyrgyzstan have an important role to play in the development of a new society, and the report recommends the provision of training and services by both the state and the private sector to enhance and enable their involvement.
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