Feminization of teaching profession in Kazakhstan: causes and implications

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the issues of feminization of teaching profession in Kazakhstan using results of a research project conducted by the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education and Faculty of Education of Cambridge University. The article considers low level of monthly wage rates for teachers and traditional gendered division of labour in Kazakh society as main causes of ffeemmiinization of teaching, and discusses lack of male role models, negative impact upon boys’ educational attainment and consolidation of gender inequality in the society as possible implications of the feminization.