L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Tusupbekova Bakhyt Serikovna on the topic «Psychological features gender identity of modern Kazakhstani youth» to the educational program «8D03103 – Psychology».
The dissertation was carried out at the Department of «Psychology» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is russian
Official reviewers:
Zhanserikova Dybyss Amankeldiyevna – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, Buketov Karaganda National Research University (Karaganda, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Aymaganbetova Olga Khabizhanovna – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor at the Department of General and Applied Psychology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Temporary members of the Dissertation Council:
Kabakova Mayra Pobedovna – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Research Professor at the Department of General and Applied Psychology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Kulzhabayeva Lyazzat - Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of «Astana Institute of Integrative and Family Psychology» LLP (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Kudryavtsev Vladimir Tovievich – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor at the Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis (Moscow, Russian Federation).
Scientific consultants:
Nuradinov Almat Sabitovich – Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Acting Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);
Ilieva Snezhana Evlogieva – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Psychology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (Sofia, Bulgaria).
The defense will take place on December 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D031 – Social sciences» in the educational program «8D03103 – Psychology» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Conducting a meeting of the dissertation council in a mixed (offline and online) format.
Link: https://clck.ru/3QX3Hk
Address: Astana, 2 K. Satpayev Street, Main Building, Conference Hall (Room 302).
Abstract (English): Keywords: gender identity, gender roles, psychosemantic approach, self-consciousness, structure, components, constructivist approach, stereotypes, values, ideals, prejudices, tolerance. The relevance of the problem is determined by a combination of interrelated factors. First, in contemporary sociocultural conditions, individuals with egalitarian gender self-consciousness demonstrate psychological advantages in adaptation and subjective well-being, which is confirmed by data from a number of foreign studies (R. E. Pauletti, M. Menon, P. J. Cooper; C. D. Aults, D. G. Perry; M. L. Dean, S. S. Tate; K. Deaux, L. L. Lewis, and others). Second, gender self-consciousness is directly linked to the quality of human capital, which affects the progressive development of both the individual and society as a whole: the transformation of societal gender consciousness toward egalitarianism serves as an important condition for self-actualization and full realization of the potential of women and men (S. J. Rogers, P. R. Amato; G. Kaufman, R. Uhlenberg; K. Donnelly, J. M. Twenge; A. H. Eagly, V. J. Steffen, and others). Third, persistent traditional gender stereotypes and prejudices significantly influence attitudes toward women in professional and family spheres, generating workplace discrimination and increasing the risk of domestic violence (B. Rottweiler, S. Slemmow, P. Gilla; T. A. Kupers; I. K. Broverman, S. R. Vogel; J. H. Duckitt; M. E. Heilman, A. H. Eagly, and others). In Kazakhstan, the rise in domestic violence, including fatal cases, has necessitated the tightening of criminal liability and the expansion of specialized units for the protection of women. According to data reported by Halyk Research based on the findings of K. Goldin, the gender wage gap persists in all sectors of the economy except education and exceeds the global average: in 2022, women’s earnings in Kazakhstan were approximately one quarter lower than men’s. One of the key causes is the “double burden” placed on women, who are expected to combine paid work with domestic responsibilities as prescribed by traditional role divisions. Fourth, wage discrimination reduces the potential for national economic growth and indirectly affects the material well-being of all Kazakhstanis. Fifth, the significance of gender self-consciousness is reinforced by Kazakhstan’s international commitments, undertaken by the country as a sovereign participant of the global community. The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan enshrines the prohibition of gender-based discrimination, while the “Strategy for Gender Equality in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the Law “On State Guarantees of Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women,” and the “Family and Gender Policy Concept in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030” form a regulatory framework aimed at achieving gender equality. Gender equality is considered as one of the key indicators in indices calculated by the UN, WEF, OECD, and the World Bank (Human Development Index, Gender Gap Index, Gender Development Index, SDG Gender Index, and others). At the same time, Kazakhstan holds unstable positions on the Global Gender Gap Index and, in 2022, did not reach the median level among the world’s countries. According to 2020 data, more than 90% of the population adhered to patriarchal gender stereotypes, indicating a significant gap between the normatively established egalitarian principles and actual value-role orientations. The Strategy for Gender Equality in the Republic of Kazakhstan, aimed at transforming societal gender consciousness, identifies the development of new, egalitarian models of gender self-consciousness as one of its priority objectives. At the same time, an evident contradiction emerges between the societal need for the modernization of gender self-consciousness among Kazakhstanis and the insufficient amount of psychological research capable of providing a holistic scientific understanding of its structure, state and dynamics. This contradiction constitutes the core scientific problem of the present study. Realistic modernization of consciousness requires a clear understanding of which specific psychological constructs must be developed, and which structural components must be targeted. This presupposes, on the one hand, a theoretical description of the structure and interrelations of the components of gender self-consciousness as an integral psychological phenomenon, and on the other, an empirical examination of their current state among Kazakhstani youth. The obtained answers provide a scientific basis for identifying directions and priorities for change. The aim of the study is to examine the psychological characteristics of gender self-consciousness among Kazakhstani youth and the tendencies of its development. The subject of the study is the structure of gender self-consciousness as an integral, internally organized psychological phenomenon. In the categorical framework of psychological science, the concept of “gender self-consciousness” is relatively new and lacks a universally accepted definition. In contemporary scientific discourse, its content is interpreted in different ways, and three main approaches to its study are proposed: the component-based approach (A. O. Apartseva, N. V. Silkina, E. V. Onufrieva, M. A. Uskembayeva, and others), the level-based approach (I. S. Kon, Zh. I. Namazbayeva, A. A. Chekalina, I. I. Chesnokova, and others), and the approach based on the theory of gender mentality (M. A. Yerofeyeva, E. V. Ioffe, O. I. Klyuchko, E. V. Samosadova, N. F. Sukhareva, A. A. Churkina, and others). The author of the dissertation views the distinction between the component-based and level-based approaches as largely conditional and methodologically resolves it through the application of the principle of systemicity. Based on this principle, gender self-consciousness is described through the categories of structure, components, and development. The integrity of the structure is ensured by the interrelations among the cognitive component (gender identity, representations and stereotypes), the affective component (gender ideals, emotional-value self-attitude), the conative component (gender prejudices and tolerance), and the motivational component (gender values and ideals). Understanding gender self-consciousness as a developing system justifies the inclusion of the motivational component, which highlights the role of the individual’s subjective position in the formation of gender identity and corresponds to the constructivist approach to interpreting gender. The object of the study is Kazakhstani youth, students of higher education institutions. The choice of this object is determined by the fact that youth represent a strategic resource of the state, shaping the trajectories of its social, economic, and cultural development. It is within this group that the transformation of values, norms, and behavioral models is most noticeable, including changes in the structure of gender self-consciousness. The study involved two independent experimental samples formed with consideration of gender and regional representation. In total, the sample consisted of young men and women from five macro-regions of Kazakhstan—Central, Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern (n = 250). The current state of scientific knowledge on gender self-consciousness among youth is characterized by a pronounced informational deficit: this phenomenon has not been systematically studied in Kazakhstan, validated methodologies for domestic samples are lacking, and the structure and dynamics of gender self-consciousness in the youth environment remain insufficiently explored. In this regard, conducting a series of exploratory, search-oriented experiments appears methodologically and substantively justified. The research hypothesis assumed that the current state and developmental tendencies of gender self-consciousness as an integral psychological structure would manifest in differences in the intensity and content of its components among young men and women—cognitive, affective, motivational, and conative. Research Objectives 1. To conduct a theoretical analysis of the current state of the problem of gender self-consciousness: to identify key questions, approaches, methods, and research findings in domestic and international psychological science. 2. Based on the results of the theoretical analysis, to propose a model of the structure of an individual’s gender self-consciousness and to determine the methodology, logic, and design of the experimental study. 3. To conduct an experimental examination of the cognitive component, including: a) establishing a typology of gender identity among contemporary youth. b) identifying the correlation between traditional and egalitarian gender representations and assessing their prevalence among young men and women with different identity types. c) analyzing the ratio of traditional and modernized gender stereotypes depending on the identity type. 4. To carry out an experimental investigation of the motivational and affective components, including: a) identifying tendencies in the preference of values associated with masculine and feminine cultures and the differences manifested in various spheres of life. b) determining the structures of the ideal gender Self of young men and women with different identity types and comparing them with the content of the real gender Self. c) examining emotional-value self-attitude and the degree of congruence between the real and ideal gender Self. 5. To conduct an experimental study of the conative component aimed at: a) identifying the prevalence and content of gender prejudices among young men and women, as well as their distribution across various spheres of life. b) determining the levels and forms of manifestation of gender tolerance/intolerance and analyzing group differences. 6. To develop scientifically grounded recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of the modernization of gender self-consciousness among youth. Research Methods The study of identity structures—types of gender identity and the ideal gender Self—was conducted on the basis of the psychosemantic approach using a modified version of the semantic differential. Gender representations, stereotypes, and prejudices were examined using I. S. Kletsina’s method “Study of Gender Characteristics of Personality.” Values of masculine and feminine cultures were identified using G. Hofstede’s methodology adapted by I. S. Kletsina. Levels of gender tolerance were determined with the questionnaire developed by L. P. Shustova for young men and women. The empirical data were processed using linear correlation analysis (Pearson’s r), factor analysis based on the principal component method with Varimax rotation and Kaiser normalization, and Spearman’s rank correlation. The significance of differences and frequency distributions was assessed using Pearson’s χ² test and Fisher’s φ* criterion. Key Propositions Submitted for Defense 1. Gender self-consciousness represents an integral system whose coherence is ensured by the interrelation of four key components: the cognitive (gender identity, representations, stereotypes), the affective (emotional-value self-attitude), the motivational (values and ideals), and the conative (prejudices and tolerance). The system-forming factor is the unity of the cognitive, emotional, motivational, and behavioral processes of the individual. 2. The transformation of the global gender order and rapidly changing technological structures lead to alterations in the structure of gender self-consciousness among contemporary youth. Among Kazakhstani youth, this tendency is expressed in the variability of androgynous, masculine, and feminine identity types, which have differing psychological content among young men and women. Psychological differences between genders do not disappear but take new forms due to the emergence of new identity variants. 3. Young men and women act as active agents in the formation of their own identity. In constructing it, they rely on consciously chosen gender values and images of the ideal gender Self, which corresponds to the constructivist approach and emphasizes the increasing role of individual consciousness. 4. Differences in the degree and prevalence of gender prejudices, as well as traditional and modernized representations and stereotypes, influence the levels of gender tolerance/intolerance. This is manifested in differences along the parameters of awareness–unawareness, activity–passivity, and openness–hiddenness of gender tolerance among young men and women. The reliability of the experimental results was ensured through a combination of methodological and procedural solutions. First, factors affecting internal validity were eliminated through the standardization of experimental conditions and control of external variables. Second, a randomization strategy based on stratometric characteristics was employed, which reduced systematic biases and ensured group equivalence. Third, validated and standardized psychodiagnostic methods meeting the requirements of reliability and replicability were used. Fourth, the statistical significance of correlations, differences, and distributions was tested using a set of criteria, ensuring the empirical grounding and objectivity of the conclusions obtained. Scientific research on gender issues in Kazakhstan has developed predominantly within linguistics and sociology, and in recent years—within political science, philosophy, and cultural studies. Studies in these domains are of considerable interest to psychological science, as they often extend beyond their disciplinary boundaries and address psychological mechanisms underlying the formation and reproduction of gender norms. For instance, the works of S. B. Begaliyeva, A. T. Onalbayeva, and T. Zh. Toktarova provide detailed analyses of manifestations of androcentrism in various forms and in the semiotics of nonverbal behavior embedded in the ethnic culture of the Kazakhs. The strengthening of androcentrism amid the revival of traditional culture significantly affects the formation of gender self-consciousness among youth. A contribution to the study of the sociocultural sources of gender intolerance has been made by analytical research on advertising and media content conducted by A. Aliyeva, A. R. Masalimova, and A. K. Naisbayeva. These works demonstrate that mass sociocultural agents actively disseminate typified gender canons, contributing to the reinforcement of stereotypes and prejudices in public consciousness. In pedagogical and psychological science, there was a long-standing substitution of the concepts “sex” and “gender,” as a result of which numerous experimental studies effectively identified the influence of biological differences rather than socio-psychological mechanisms. Only in recent years has gender once again been considered in its original sense—as a psychological and sociocultural aspect of identity. This shift has enabled authors to focus on individual components of gender self-consciousness in accordance with their research objectives. For example, Z. Sh. Mukhtarova investigated the features of masculinity and femininity in the professional training of psychology students; Z. M. Balgimbayeva examined the historical-philosophical foundations of the emergence of gender prejudices. Particular attention should be given to the studies conducted by M. A. Uskembayeva in collaboration with T. A. Rezvushkina and A. A. Beisenova. Based on an analysis of Kazakhstan’s social gender policy, they were the first to identify neo-traditionalism as a key trend in the transformation of gender relations, manifested in the distribution of roles, norms, and values. The authors also demonstrated the toxicity of hegemonic and traditional masculinity, drawing on data related to men’s health and demographic risks. In the context of examining shifts in gender attitudes, the works of M. P. Kabakova are noteworthy, as they focus on the contemporary distribution of gender roles in the Kazakh family and the issue of “new responsible fatherhood.” Overall, the level of scholarly understanding of gender self-consciousness among youth in Kazakhstani psychology remains extremely low. This is due not only to the fact that gender psychology is still in the process of formation, but also to the absence of comprehensive studies that consider gender self-consciousness as an integral phenomenon. The typology of gender identity among contemporary youth, the structure of gender representations, values, ideals, emotional-value attitudes toward one’s own identity, as well as levels of gender tolerance, have not been studied. A serious obstacle is the lack of methodological resources: standardized psychometric instruments adapted for domestic samples—particularly in the Kazakh language—are lacking. Novelty of the Findings 1. A model of the structure of an individual’s gender self-consciousness is proposed, developed within the framework of the constructivist approach and accounting for the interaction of cognitive, affective, motivational, and conative components. 2. The phenomenon of gender self-consciousness among youth has been examined as an integral psychological system whose coherence is ensured by stable interrelations among its components. 3. The multiplicity and variability of gender identity has been identified, determining the typology of contemporary identity profiles among youth. 4. Current trends in the transformation of gender self-consciousness among young men and women under conditions of global and local sociocultural change have been established. 5. The characteristics of the cognitive, affective, motivational, and conative components of gender self-consciousness have been analyzed, reflecting the specifics of youth gender attitudes. 6. Differences in the content and prevalence of gender representations, stereotypes, ideals, values, prejudices, and forms of tolerance among young men and women with different identity types have been identified. 7. For the first time, a psychosemantic method was applied to identify the structures of the real and ideal gender Self of Kazakhstani youth, which made it possible to uncover the deeper layers of their subjective representations and meanings. The study of gender self-consciousness has been conducted for the first time in Kazakhstan within the psychosemantic paradigm. In foreign research (E. Carroll, R. Coetzer, J. Zevin), this method has been used primarily for examining personal and ethnic identity. Its application in the present study made it possible to forgo the traditional S. Bem questionnaire (BSRI), which has not been validated on a Kazakhstani sample and has been criticized by D. Ballard-Reisch, M. Elton, N. Choi, D. Fuqua, and others due to the inconsistency of its scale structure with contemporary gender representations. Practical Significance of the Study 1. The data obtained on the current state of gender self-consciousness among youth provide a scientifically grounded basis for public officials to develop strategic and operational measures for its modernization, including the prevention of gender-related risks and the enhancement of the effectiveness of social policy. 2. The results of the analysis of gender stereotypes, prejudices, and values make it possible to develop an informational and methodological foundation for training programs on gender issues for young men and women, including educational modules, preventive programs, and educational initiatives. 3. The experimental and comparative data can be integrated into the teaching of the course “Gender Psychology” in the form of lecture materials, and the methods used may be incorporated into practice-oriented modules on psychodiagnostics and psychological counseling. 4. The first application in Kazakhstan of the psychosemantic method for diagnosing gender typology, the methods for studying gender characteristics of personality, the values of gender cultures (G. Hofstede – I. Kletsina), as well as the method for assessing gender tolerance (L. P. Shustova) and their adapted versions in the Kazakh language, addresses a significant shortage of scientific tools in the field of gender studies. 5. The recommendations developed may be used in the creation of institutional and sociocultural mechanisms for achieving gender equality, as well as in measures aimed at preventing gender intolerance and reducing discriminatory practices among youth. The contemporary postmodern era is characterized by rapidly changing technological structures and the transformation of the traditional gender order, which makes the dynamics of gender self-consciousness particularly visible and rapid. Accordingly, former concepts of masculinity and femininity are becoming obsolete, giving way to the notion of gender norms that are oriented toward shifting sociocultural contexts. In this regard, the present study contributes to the renewal of scientific approaches by expanding the understanding of the processes underlying the formation of gender self-consciousness among youth in Kazakhstan. Scientific and Theoretical Significance 1. The empirical data on the variability of classical types of gender identity expand S. L. Bem’s orthogonal model of gender, confirming the limitations of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory in studying the multidimensional aspects of masculinity and femininity. 2. The findings demonstrate that the contemporary trend toward the blurring of boundaries between the stability and variability of identity also extends to gender identity. This necessitates a reconsideration of several provisions in the theoretical frameworks of E. Erikson, R. Burns, and other scholars who posited the relative stability of identity. 3. The identified variability and multiplicity of gender identity, within the logic of the constructivist approach, revealed its close connection with the semantic, motivational, and value spheres of the individual. This perspective, unlike the interactionist and cognitivist models of J. Mead and J. Turner, emphasizes the role of gender as an existential component of an individual’s life self-determination strategy. 4. The empirical data confirmed the applicability to the gender domain of the conclusions offered by J. Dovidio, S. Gaertner, J. Jones, D. Matsumoto, T. Nelson, and other authors regarding the determining role of representations, stereotypes, and prejudices in the formation of intolerant attitudes. The theoretical and methodological foundation of the study consisted of classical concepts of identity within the psychoanalytic, interactionist, and cognitivist traditions (E. Erikson, H. Tajfel, J. Turner, C. Brown, J. Mead); theories of gender as a psychosocial field of the individual (J. Money, A. Ehrhardt, R. Stoller); contemporary perspectives on component-based, level-based, systemic, and orthogonal models of gender identity (N. V. Akinshina, L. N. Ozhigova, I. S. Kon, A. A. Chernovol, D. D. Isaev, S. Bem); conceptualizations of masculinity and femininity as systems of sociocultural gender norms (I. S. Kletsina, E. V. Ioffe); and scientific approaches to explaining the nature of prejudices and related forms of tolerance (T. Nelson, D. Matsumoto, D. Krech, R. Crutchfield, E. Ballachey, I. S. Kon, A. G. Asmolov, L. Kh. Urusova, and others). The methodological basis of the research was formed by the constructivist approach, the principle of systemicity, and the psychosemantic paradigm, which makes it possible to explore the structure of subjective meanings and their role in the formation of identity. Approbation of the Research Findings Presentations were delivered at International Practical Conferences (Almaty, 2023; Tashkent, 2025), at the International Congress of Psychologists (Bulgaria, November 2024), and in a podcast of the “Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development” on the YouTube digital platform (2024). Implementation of the Research Results The methods for studying gender characteristics of personality and the analytical overview of the state of the problem were integrated into the lecture course and practicum on Gender Psychology at L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. List of Published Works in Scholarly Journals with a Non-zero Impact Factor (Scopus, Web of Science), Abstracts and Articles: 1. Gender inequalities: Understanding gender identity and changing trends // Rivista di Studi sulla Sostenibilita. – 2024. – No. 1. – pp. 27–44. 2. Peculiarities of young people's gender awareness in contemporary Kazakh society // Scientific Herald of Uzhhorod University Series «Physics» Journal homepage. – 2024. – Issue 55. – pp. 1273–1280. 3. The influence of social media on mediating gender identity and psychosocial values in the student population of Kazakhstan // Cogent Social Sciences. – 2025 (Web of Science, Q2 quartile, 2025). 4. Gender state policy: current issues in the development of psychological science in Kazakhstan // Bulletin of L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Series: Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology. – 2023. – No. 2(143). – pp. 357–366. 5. Psychosemantics of gender consciousness among youth in Kazakhstan // Bulletin of Abai KazNPU. Psychology Series. – 2023. – No. 2(75). – pp. 77–88. 6. Masculine and feminine culture of society: youth preferences // Bulletin of L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology Series. – 2023. – No. 144(3). – pp. 338–348. 7. Gender issues in Kazakhstani society // International Scientific and Practical Conference “Science and Education in the Modern World: Challenges of the 21st Century” (Astana, 2023). – pp. 27–37. 8. The correlation of traditionality and egalitarianity in the gender consciousness of Kazakhstani youth: risks of gender discrimination // Bobek Bulletin. Series “Psychological Sciences”. – 2023. – No. 1(1). – pp. 6–9. 9. Relationship of traditionality and egalitarianity in the gender consciousness of Kazakhstan youth: risks of gender discrimination // Collection of Papers from the X Jubilee International Congress of Psychology “The Challenges Facing Modern Psychology” (St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, 2023). – pp. 1159–1165. 10. Gender representations as a factor of women’s professional self-realization // International Scientific and Practical Conference “GENDER Tenglik Va Ijtimoiy Taraqqiyoti” (Navoi, 2025). 11. Development of gender equality in Kazakhstan: key achievements and problematic aspects: podcast / Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development ([https://youtu.be/hmkAJboBmM](https://youtu.be/hmkAJboBmM), November 2024). Structure and Volume of the Dissertation The text consists of an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion with recommendations, a list of references, and appendices. The dissertation is illustrated with 14 figures and contains 16 tables. The total volume of the dissertation is 141 pages. The introduction substantiates the relevance of the topic; formulates the aim, objectives, and hypotheses of the study; defines the object and subject of the research; presents the key propositions submitted for defense; describes the methods used for collecting and processing empirical data; justifies the reliability of the obtained results and conclusions; and outlines the scientific novelty as well as the theoretical and practical significance of the findings. The first chapter, “The State of the Problem of Gender Self-Consciousness in Psychological Science,” presents an analysis of psychological characteristics and approaches to understanding the essence of gender identity, femininity and masculinity, gender representations and prejudices, and tolerance in gender relations. Based on the results of the analysis, a model of the structure of gender self-consciousness is proposed. The second chapter, “Organization and Methods of the Experimental Study of Gender Self-Consciousness,” provides a description of the methodology and research design, the plan of the experimental study, as well as the aims, objectives, and methods of the experiments. The third chapter, “Results of the Experimental Study of Gender Self-Consciousness among Youth,” presents empirical data from three experiments aimed at examining the cognitive, affective, motivational, and conative components of the structure of gender self-consciousness in youth. The conclusion summarizes the empirical results and provides general conclusions on the basis of which recommendations were developed for measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of the modernization of gender self-consciousness.
Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee
Defense of the dissertation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4_o5-hQNCE
