Persisting Inequality in Government Leadership Roles: Women Still Underrepresented in Prominent Kazakh Cities
In the city of Shymkent, women are leading three key departments - internal policy, education, employment, and social protection - marking a significant step towards gender equality in government. However, a closer look at the broader landscape of local governments in Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent reveals a concerning trend: women's under-representation in senior leadership roles.
Sabina Sadiyeva, a public administration expert, has highlighted several factors contributing to this disparity. One of the main issues is the limited promotion opportunities for women, despite making up a significant portion of civil servants. Women are present in large numbers in entry-level or mid-level positions, but they are not being promoted or appointed to senior roles at the same rate as men.
Institutional and systemic barriers also play a role in hindering women's advancement. Many political systems and institutions still maintain structures that are historically male-dominated, making it difficult for women to break through into leadership roles. This can lead to political caution rather than policy change.
Social and cultural factors also influence women's career advancement. Traditional societal norms and expectations can limit women's participation in high-level positions, and even when women do achieve leadership roles, they may face additional challenges such as bias and discrimination.
Lack of support and mentorship is another obstacle women face in navigating complex political environments effectively. Without such support, they may struggle to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from reaching senior leadership roles.
Addressing these issues would require a multifaceted approach, including policy changes, cultural shifts, and targeted support programs to empower women in these positions. Sadiyeva proposes crucial steps such as enforcing limits on overtime, ensuring proper leave, and protecting work-life balance to better support women in civil service.
Sadiyeva's remarks highlight the need for addressing persistent gender biases in society to improve women's representation in leadership roles in government. The overall health of public institutions could benefit from measures to better support women in civil service, as proposed by Sadiyeva.
However, societal attitudes, as reflected in local elections, may continue to negatively impact women's representation in leadership roles. Under the direct election system, the share of women in rural akim positions dropped significantly, indicating persistent gender biases. All five district akim positions in Shymkent are held by men, and only two of the eight districts in Almaty - Nauryzbai and Zhetysu - are led by women. In Astana, women head only 2 of 23 departments.
Sadiyeva suggests that systemic changes are necessary to address the broader structural challenges facing women in government. Nearly half of all city hall employees in the three cities are under 35 years old, offering a potential opportunity for generational change. However, the current representation of women in leadership roles does not reflect this demographic shift.
In conclusion, while progress has been made in certain areas, there is still a long way to go in ensuring gender equality in Kazakhstan's government. Systemic changes, cultural shifts, and targeted support programs are needed to empower women and create a more inclusive and representative political landscape.
- Sabiah Sadiyeva, an expert in public administration, attributes the lack of women in senior leadership roles in local governments in Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent to limited promotion opportunities, institutional and systemic barriers, social and cultural factors, and lack of support and mentorship.
- Traditional societal norms and expectations can limit women's participation in high-level positions, and even when women do achieve leadership roles, they may face additional challenges such as bias and discrimination.
- To improve women's representation in leadership roles in government, Sadiyeva proposes enforcing limits on overtime, ensuring proper leave, and protecting work-life balance to better support women in civil service.
- While progress has been made in certain areas, there is still a long way to go in ensuring gender equality in Kazakhstan's government. Nearly half of all city hall employees in the three cities are under 35 years old, offering a potential opportunity for generational change, but the current representation of women in leadership roles does not reflect this demographic shift.
