Leadership Behind Closed Doors: The Role of Husbands in Supporting or Hindering Women’s Professional Advancement in Uzbekistan
Keywords:
Gender roles, career development, spousal support, women in Uzbekistan, work-family conflict, labor divisionAbstract
This study examines the impact that husbands have on the careers of
women in Uzbekistan. It focuses on the question of whether husbands function as
supporters, detractors, or are indifferent to their wives' professional advancement by
integrating gender role theory alongside social support theory. Based on a survey of 109
married women from different urban and rural areas of Uzbekistan, especially Khorezm and
Tashkent, we assess the influence that emotional support, household chore sharing, and
prevailing societal norms regarding femininity and masculinity have on women’s
employment decisions and career progression. These findings are relevant in guiding policy
development with regard to gender issues, particularly about family assistance programs
and stimulating female participation in the labor force.
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