Sex-equality norms versus traditional gender values in Communist Mongolia

Abstract

Mongolian religious norms were rooted in the worship of patrilineal ancestors which placed a higher value on the masculine. They assigned gender status and roles to individuals, notably by confining access to the socio-political sphere to men. These norms have subsequently oriented Buddhist practices in Mongolia. The Soviet-style revolutionary regime established in 1924 substituted a new normative model: until 1990, it suppressed gender differentiation among citizens, imposed equal political rights, and promoted women’s access to education, public activity and work outside the home. Urbanization and industrialization played a significant role in changing the socio-economical context and kinship relations, weakening the hold of tradition on individuals. However, the differential valency of gender was not as challenged as it might seem, especially in politics. This is evidenced in post-communist Mongolia, where the subordinate role of women in politics remains an issue.