Abstract

Relevance. Kazakhstan’s modern social policy landscape has created challenges for urban families in managing childcare and household duties. This study examines the revival of nomadic cultural practices, specifically the employment of “female assistants”, as a response to these challenges.

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to investigate the experiences of urban Kazakh middle-class couples who adopt or revive the practice of employing “female assistants” for childcare and household management, exploring the underlying reasons for this trend.

Methodology. The research utilizes data from 11 individual semi-structured interviews with female assistants, conducted between 2014 and 2017. A qualitative analysis approach was employed to examine the complexities of this social phenomenon.

Results. The study reveals a complex interplay of familial obligations, gender roles, and economic necessities in the employment of “female assistants”. These arrangements often result in the exploitation of the assistants, who lose autonomy over their time and labour. The host families, while benefiting from the support, experience conflicting emotions about the fairness of the situation, often attempting to compensate through material means. Additionally, the study uncovers a significant invisibility of “female assistants” in symbolic representations and family hierarchies, contributing to the undervaluation of their work and social status.

Conclusions. The research illuminates how urban Kazakh families navigate the challenges of contemporary social policies by reviving and adapting nomadic cultural practices. It underscores the complex power dynamics, emotional labour, and symbolic representations associated with the role of “female assistants” in modern Kazakh households, pointing to the need for further diversification of social policies regarding motherhood and childcare.

Keywords: social policy; neo-traditionalism; Kazakh families; “female assistants”

Suggested citation