Abstract:

This paper explores the journeys of professionally successful female immigrants from Uzbekistan who have established careers in the U.S. IT sector. While existing literature often depicts female immigrants from Central Asia as 'secondary workers' compelled to take on low-status jobs and prioritize family economic survival over personal aspirations, this study illuminates a noteworthy segment of Uzbek women who have pursued new professions, furthered their education, and achieved significant professional accomplishments in the United States.

We argue that the pivotal element in their success is a transformative change in the gender contract within traditional immigrant families as they transition from Uzbekistan to the United States. This change entails a departure from conventional gender roles, allowing women to redefine their roles both within their families and in the professional sphere. Our analysis is grounded in a qualitative study of the Uzbek immigrant community in the United States, consisting of 16 in-depth biographical interviews with first-generation Uzbek female immigrants who have successfully integrated into the U.S. IT sector.

To interpret the data, we employ the concepts of "gender contract," "migrant agency," and "gendered agency" to identify the ethnically specific factors and mechanisms that facilitate the successful integration of Uzbek female immigrants. These concepts help us understand how these women navigate and negotiate their identities and roles in a new cultural and professional environment, ultimately achieving professional success and personal fulfillment. This study not only contributes to the literature on immigrant integration and gender studies but also highlights the resilience and agency of Uzbek women in redefining their roles and overcoming traditional constraints in a new country.

Abstract:

This paper explores the phenomenon of online activism aimed at combatting gender-based violence against women in two countries of contemporary Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Extending the argument advanced by scholars like Mpofu (2023) that digital media have enabled women to engage and disseminate counter-discourses to resist their subjugation and claim power, we argue that digital activism can act as sites of contestation, where women take positions and can influence wider publics. Using Thematic Analysis as a research approach, we show how individual digital activists develop digital subjectivity and engage in the new politics of gender justice. Our second finding illustrates how their labor is emotional, precarious and invisible. Third, our analysis shows some potential for conflict, because activists participate in a politics of representation which may perpetuate digital divide and enhance power relations among the different sections of their audiences.

Abstract:

The research aims to uncover violence against women in conflict areas to prevent future atrocities, with a specific focus on femicide cases in Abkhazia, Georgia, which have not been previously studied by scholars. This phenomenon has gained renewed attention following the war in Ukraine.

Examining how women are targeted and killed due to hate, contempt, pleasure, or a sense of power over them, the study sheds light on the unique vulnerabilities women face during armed conflict. Georgia, with a population of 4.3 million, has endured two wars with Russia, resulting in widespread displacement and a lack of human security post-conflict, exacerbating risks for women.

Through in-depth interviews conducted on fifteen femicide cases, utilizing oral history tools with internally displaced people in Georgia, the research captures firsthand accounts from witnesses, often close friends or relatives of the victims.

Moreover, the study delves into post-traumatic growth among women who have experienced societal trauma, a topic often overlooked by media coverage but deserving of attention for its demonstration of resilience and potential for positive change despite profound suffering.

Highlighting the importance of societal conflict transformation in enhancing women's security, the study emphasizes the crucial role of the media in breaking the silence, documenting truth, and amplifying authentic voices to address and prevent violence against women.