A round table on the topic "Gender equality: The current situation in Kazakhstan and orientation towards the future"

March 13, 2025,  at a round table organized within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the topic "Gender equality: The current situation in Kazakhstan and orientation towards the future", topical issues were discussed. The organizers of the round table are senior teachers of the Department of Sociology and Social Work of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, candidates of Sociological Sciences Sarybayeva I.S. and Avsydykova K.A. and doctoral students of the 1st year of the educational program "8D03101-Sociology" Shakenov D.S. and Umbet R.S.

As part of the round table, students read reports on 5 topics that:

1. Gender equality: Global trends and the situation in Kazakhstan – Sharipkhan Zhanerke;

2. Women's education: The gap between the countryside and the city – Kaiypnazar Asem;

3. Women's entrepreneurship: Opportunities and difficulties – Amangeldi Karakat;

4. Combating gender-based violence: Laws and their effectiveness – Kuanyshbayeva Gulnaz;

5. Stereotypes and their impact on women's careers – Janayeva Akbobek.

The issues of gender equality in Kazakhstan, the achievements and difficulties of women in education, entrepreneurship, the fight against gender-based violence and the impact of stereotypes on women's careers were discussed in detail. In their reports, the students analyzed the position and opportunities of women in society, noted barriers and the importance of gender equality in their implementation.

During the round table, a discussion was held on the following issues:

1. Is gender equality important only for women or does it affect the whole society?

2. How much have the gender perspectives of modern youth changed compared to previous generations?

3. Do you agree that gender equality contradicts cultural traditions? Why?

4. How to encourage girls to enroll in technical and engineering specialties in Kazakhstan?

5. What policies do women need to find a balance between career and family?

6. Are the concepts of "professions for women" and "professions for men" still relevant?

7. Should men and women share family responsibilities equally? Or is the traditional model more efficient?

8. In which roles are most women shown in modern cinema and advertising?

9. What misconceptions and myths are associated with gender equality?

10. How does popular culture (cinema, music, social media) affect gender equality?

There was a lively discussion on these issues, with participants discussing gender equality issues from different angles. The students openly expressed their views and discussed the importance of gender equality in modern society, how culture and traditions influence this issue. In addition, the participants also exchanged views and made suggestions on the issues of equal division of professional and family responsibilities between women and men, inequality in women's choice of profession and stereotypes of their career path.

The round table is considered an important step in the framework of the 5th Sustainable Development Goal - support for gender equality. The participants shared their opinions and proposed several new ideas for developing policies and measures to improve gender equality.