Socio-Cultural Portrait of Modern Gagaus Woman

Abstract

Based on the materials of ethno-sociological and ethno demographic studies from the Soviet and post-Soviet times, carried out by Russian and Moldavian scientists, the article presents a dynamic, socio-cultural image of a Gagauz woman. Different aspects of a modern woman’s life are considered: her life values, attitude to labour, education, wealth, marriage and family. The article also raises questions about religion, ethnic identity, language skills, labour migration of Gagauz women, the transformation of gender stereotypes in Gagauz society. Powerful globalization processes, socio-economic and spiritual crisis, a high level of impoverishment among the population, as well as the pandemic, have greatly affected the worldview system of people. In the Gagauz society, which is now at the stage of transitioning from a traditional to a modern type of society, the most important moral values and spiritual and moral orientations of women have embodied traditional as well as innovative features. The dynamics of the Gagauz women’s spiritual world is strongly influenced by social transformations related to international labour migration that has to a great extent changed the habitual gender roles in the Gagauz family, the existing models and stereotypes of men’s and women’s behavior, their statuses and relationships.