TRANSFORMATION OF THE FAMILY INSTITUTION: SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NEW CHANGES IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

The emergence of new positions on the issues of gender equality and justice, as they arise in the context of social liberalism and economic reconstruction, serve to ensure equality between men and women. Furthermore, they facilitate the advent of novel approaches to the birth and upbringing of children, and accelerate the transformation of the family institution. The reconciliation of new positions in marriage-family relations and the succession of generations represents an urgent problem that requires sociological analysis.

The authors of the article conducted an analysis of the system of sociological theoretical and methodological concepts aimed at explaining the changes in the institution of the family. They also conducted a secondary analysis of the sociological research data (N: 1,200 respondent) on the topic “Kazakhstan Families – 2022”, which was conducted by the NJSC “Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development”. This multifaceted approach enabled the identification and analysis of the changes occurring in marriage and family relations in Kazakhstan.

The findings of the analysis indicated that the attitudes and stances of Kazakhstani individuals with regard to the family are characterised by a degree of conservatism. Furthermore, the findings of the study indicate that Kazakhstani individuals place a high value on traditional family values and strive to maintain them. Nevertheless, the most significant value for a contemporary family is care and mutual respect, as well as support, which in the modern era is referred to as an “ecological relationship”.

A conceptual analysis of the transformation of the family institution and its interpretation in practice through the results of sociological research has the potential to inform theoretical and methodological decisions in the development of proposals for the regulation of marriage-family relations for submission to state structures and research institutes.

Key words: family institution, family transformation, institutional approach, deinstitutionalization, diversification, institutional logic, queer theory.