Motherhood in social and philosophical discussion
Keywords:
ethnicity, birth rate, motherhood, ethnic structure, families with few children, families with many children, demographic behavior, urban and country peopleAbstract
In the article the ethic structure of Kazakhstan, which was formed in the Soviet period and changed in the period getting repuplic independence is considered. Also the ethnicity influence on women reproduction function is studied which has ethnic features, when cultural traditions and practices define «right» motherhood, «right» number of children, and daily care after children, interpretation of mother’s role, value and her status in the family. It is important to understand how the ethic factor influences on birth rate level nowadays and what is the reason of intervals in birth rate at these or those ethnic groups — social-economic living conditions, traditions and ideology. The author, on the basis of statistical data, compares the dynamics of births for women from different ethnic groups living in Kazakhstan. It is concluded that in Kazakhstan there is a significant differentiation in fertility strategies. Thus, more children are born in the southern and western regions than in the north, center and east. At the same time, rural women give birth to children more than urban ones and representatives of Turkic-speaking ethnic groups do, more often acquire children than representatives of European ethnic groups. By the end of the 21st century, Kazakhstan is likely to face a demographic crisis, since there will be a decrease in the birth rate due to intensive aging and high mortality of the population and the expected increase in the urban population. To equalize the situation is possible due to the economic growth of cities in each region of Kazakhstan, when the outflow of rural population to the city will occur and the structure of fertility of each ethnic group will change.