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Abstract

Kazakh proverbs constitute an important part of oral tradition and cultural knowledge, transmitting social norms, moral values, and collective worldviews across generations. This study examines how proverbs function as mechanisms of symbolic power, shaping gendered identities and social hierarchies in the Kazakh cultural context.

The study's theoretical framework draws on Judith Butler's concept of gender performativity and Pierre Bourdieu's notion of the symbolic power of language. From Butler’s perspective, gender identities are produced through the repeated performance of discursive practices, including culturally embedded expressions such as proverbs. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of language as a medium of symbolic domination, the paper argues that proverbs are not neutral expressions but tools that legitimize authority, reinforce social stratification, and regulate acceptable behaviors for men and women. Bourdieu’s theory highlights how linguistic forms can function as instruments of symbolic power, legitimizing social hierarchies and normative expectations.

The empirical material of the study includes a selection of traditional Kazakh proverbs that articulate gendered representations, such as “Qyzdyñ joly jiñişke” (“A girl’s path is narrow”), “Qyzğa qyryq üyden tıyım” (“A girl is restricted by forty prohibitions”), and “Jaqsy äyel – yrys” (“A good woman brings prosperity”). Through discourse analysis, the paper demonstrates how these proverbs construct a gender ideology in which men are associated with authority, public activity, and social agency, while women are linked to morality, family responsibility, and social harmony. This discourse analysis highlights the role of proverbs not only as cultural heritage but also as a socially significant linguistic tool in contemporary Kazakh society.

The article also analyzes the contemporary semantic use of some traditional proverbs in modern discourse, specifically, and discusses the reinterpretation of some proverbs in the digital environment.

Keywords: Kazakh paremiology, gender identity, social hierarchy, the Kazakh cultural context.