Empowerment Empowerment of women in the context of migration in Kazakhstan: a final monitoring study

Abstract

Today, women constitute a significant part of migration processes and at the same time face a complex set of social, economic, and gender-related risks associated with adaptation to the host society. The purpose of the study is to transform attitudes toward women in migration, their problems, and their opportunities for adaptation in the host country. The scientific significance of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of the current problems related to the situation of migrant women in the Turkestan region and in identifying manifestations of gender discrimination in migration contexts. The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of applying the obtained results to improve migration policy and migration legislation taking into account the gender factor. The methodological basis of the research is a comprehensive sociological approach combining theoretical and empirical methods. The empirical part of the study included a survey of migrant women and an expert survey of representatives of state institutions, law enforcement agencies, media, and public organizations. The monitoring study was conducted in two stages and involved 60 migrant women and 42 experts.

The results of the study showed that migrant women represent one of the most vulnerable social groups. The majority of respondents reported experiencing various forms of domestic violence, including psychological pressure, threats, and physical abuse. Expert analysis also revealed the presence of discrimination in employment, limited access to social services, and pressure from the surrounding social environment. The value of the conducted research lies in identifying socio-psychological and institutional factors influencing the situation of migrant women, as well as in expanding the scientific understanding of the gender dimension of migration processes. The obtained results contribute to the development of gender sociology and demographic studies of migration. 

Keywords: migrant women, women rights in migration, domestic violence, gender stereotypes, labour migration, abusive relationships, host and origin countries.