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Abstract

The Kazakh press of the early 20th century was a vivid reflection of the formation of national consciousness and the struggle for independence. During this period, women were often marginalized in Kazakh society due to gender inequality and patriarchal structures. Although Kazakh women fought to bring their voices and problems to society, their voices were filtered through colonial power and social restrictions. In this context, the theory of the subaltern and the postcolonial perspective allow us to explain the place of women in society and the reasons why their voices were not heard.

In the early 20th century, the issue of women became relevant in Kazakh society, which was under the oppression of colonialism. Realizing that society could not progress without improving the status of women, educated Kazakh intellectuals began publishing articles in the press defending women’s rights and writing works of fiction that promoted women’s freedom. These actions of Kazakh intellectuals made society think. But time has shown that no one can express women’s sorrow better than women themselves. At that time, Kazakh women’s journalism emerged, aiming to address the “women’s problem”, and this had its own impact on the role of women in society.

In response to Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s question “Can the Subaltern Speak?”, this article analyzes the issue of women in the Kazakh press and studies the revival of the subaltern voice. The image of women in the Kazakh press and their role in society are examined from the perspective of patriarchal structures and colonial oppression at the beginning of the 20th century. Based on materials published in the press outlets that influenced the transformation of public consciousness during that period — the journal Aiqap and the newspaper Qazaq — the study explores the contributions of Kazakh women to political, cultural, and social life, as well as the revival of their subaltern voice.

This study raises important issues related to the struggle of Kazakh women to find their voice in the press and the revival of their lost voice. It aims to illustrate the postcolonial and gender dimensions of that period by analyzing women’s attempts to find their place in society and to participate actively in national political processes through the theory of the subaltern.