Using of traditional practices in childcare in modern Kazakh society

Abstract

The article describes the practice on using labor of «assistant girls», which are practicing in modern Kazakh
families for childcare. In particular, we will describe the experience of the Kazakh married couple, which
must follow the tradition of the nomadic society to provide childcare, do homework. We will consider urban
couples, middle-class people with two or more children residing in the capital of Kazakhstan. In this case,
Kazakhstan did not become the exception. In changing Kazakh society the family policy can be characterized
as traditional, pronatalists and familists which ares focused on standard family model (father, mother and
children). In public, media, academic discourses the idea on necessity in revival of the family institution as
stronghold for the nation in which a woman plays traditional roles — wife and mother, and the man shall
provide economic responsibility for ensuring the family. In fact, Kazakh neotraditionalism becomes the state
ideology in the changing society. But this ideology is badly supported with the operating social policy. The
state provides a number of necessary minimum (paid maternity leave, workplace reservation, social security
for childcare and kindergartens), absolutely ignoring diversified forms of modern Kazakh families (one parent families, full families, families with many children, childless and etc.), motives for children birth, need of
certain social services connected with care and childcare. Under this article we will try to describe practices
of Kazakh families concerning childcare which are different from the ideological standards approved the
state. In particular, we are interested as Kazakh married couple follows traditions of the nomadic society in
childcare.