Exploring the Blend: Strategies for Contemporary Families to Strike a Balance Between Traditions and Individuality
In modern Kazakhstan, the intersection of tradition and contemporary values shapes the landscape of marital relationships. While traditions hold a significant place in the hearts of many, they can pose challenges when it comes to financial independence and personal life choices, particularly for women.
According to a study by the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD), many marriage decisions in Kazakhstan are influenced by traditions that involve honoring and respecting the elderly. However, when traditions become rigid, they risk becoming empty symbols and can act as barriers to personal development, self-expression, and financial independence.
Just over half of the respondents (55.3%) accept these traditions and regard them as an essential prerequisite for the prosperity of a family. Traditions such as the daughter-in-law's obligation to serve her husband's parents, wear a headscarf at home, live with parents after marriage, and the elders' right to name the oldest child are still prevalent.
Around 70% of respondents do not independently manage their personal finances, with many relying on their spouses, while 30% are financially managed by their parents. Financial control can occur when parents financially support a newlywed couple, leading to tensions within family structures.
Adhering to traditions in modern marriages can create tensions or challenges regarding financial independence and personal life, as traditional roles often prescribe fixed expectations that may conflict with contemporary values of equality and autonomy. This can influence how couples negotiate their financial contributions, career goals, and personal freedoms within the marriage.
However, the evolving nature of marriage sees many couples blending tradition with modern egalitarian values, allowing shared financial responsibility and personal autonomy while honoring cultural heritage. The character Akhat, respected for his wisdom and living independently in his own house at an old age, is a testament to this balance.
Financial independence, particularly among women, is a significant factor influencing modern marital choices. Increasing numbers of women delay marriage or choose to remain single to focus on career development, financial stability, and personal growth. This shift challenges traditional timelines and societal expectations embedded in marriage customs.
While some cultural practices are evolving to grant women greater autonomy, adherence to rigid customs can reinforce gender inequality and limit individual agency. Marriage customs, deeply rooted in cultural and religious traditions, sometimes perpetuate expectations that women should subordinate personal aspirations for marital duty or conform to specific behavioral norms.
In Clarissa Pinkola Estes's "Women Who Run with the Wolves," older women are described as keepers of tradition, archivists of feminine intention, and preservers of female tradition. However, the older women archetypes are contrasted with those who enforce the unquestioned status quo and stifle individual growth. Older women, when preserved in their true essence, serve as a profound source of spiritual nourishment, wisdom, guidance, and a sense of continuity.
In summary, strict adherence to traditional marital roles in modern contexts can hinder financial independence and constrain personal life choices, especially for women. However, the evolving nature of marriage sees many couples blending tradition with modern egalitarian values, allowing shared financial responsibility and personal autonomy while honoring cultural heritage. Traditions, when balanced with an independent lifestyle, have the potential to enrich lives and cultivate meaningful connections within families and communities.
References:
[1] "The Evolving Nature of Marriage in Modern Kazakhstan." Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD). 2021.
[2] "Women's Financial Independence and Modern Marital Choices." Kazakhstan Women's Development Fund. 2020.
[3] "The Impact of Tradition on Personal Freedoms in Modern Marriages." Kazakhstan Women's Law Centre. 2019.
[4] "The Shift Towards Financial Independence and Career Development among Women in Kazakhstan." Kazakhstan Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. 2018.
- In Kazakhstan's modern cultural landscape, traditional marriage norms, such as family-dynamics and relationships with the elderly, can sometimes pose challenges for personal-finance management, particularly for women, because many women choose financial independence as a crucial factor for modern marital choices, delaying marriage or remaining single to focus on professional development.
- Wealth-management within families in Kazakhstan often follows traditional patterns, with over 70% of respondents depending on their spouses or parents for financial control, creating potential conflicts in the family-dynamics and overall quality of relationships.
- The balance between tradition and contemporary values in marital relationships in Kazakhstan is illustrated by the character Akhat, who represents a harmonious blend of the past and present, living independently while still honoring cultural heritage, and offering wisdom that helps couples manage their personal-finance and strike a balance between tradition and modern egalitarian values.
