GENDER, PATRIARCHY, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN UZBEKISTAN
Igor Kotler
The position of women in Uzbekistan must be understood within the broader historical and social development of Central Asia. During the Soviet period, the Soviet government formally proclaimed gender equality and promoted women's education, employment, and participation in public life. These policies produced significant changes in women's access to education and professional employment.
Nevertheless, formal equality did not eliminate deeply rooted patriarchal structures within the family and community. Women continued to experience substantial pressure to conform to traditional expectations concerning marriage, motherhood, sexuality, and their responsibilities within the household. Notwithstanding increased education and social mobility, women continued to occupy a secondary position in significant areas of Soviet social life.
