Arslanbob’s circle of sisterhood has created empowering spaces including makeshift women’s support groups through which we met severalaccomplished, strong-willed women who support their families, financially and otherwise. We met Nargiz at one such gathering at Luiza’s guesthouse. Married at the age of 18 and widowed at 34, Nargiz had to be bold and act fast to support her four children. She opened a ladies’ clothing, shoes and accessories shop, “When my husband died, I could not afford my eldest two sons’ education, so I sent them to work in Bishkek, and then to Russia. My hope is that I will be able to educate my two youngest sons.” Entrepreneurship not only helped Nargiz’s financial situation, but also earned her the respect of the community. Her store is more than a place to shop, serving as a sanctuary for the women of Arslanbob village who come to discuss their marital and financial woes with her. In starting a business, Nargiz fulfilled several unexpected callings, one of which is that of a life coach – encouraging young women to work in CBT and even getting their husbands to work for them.
Nargiz works as a training facilitator in collaboration with Hayat Tarikov, the CBT coordinator in Arslanbob. Nargiz also fulfils the role of a marriage counsellor, having saved marriages by persuading husbands to allow their wives to transform their homes to CBT guesthouses through highlighting women’s potential to contribute to their households, thereby implicitly empowering women in the process: “If tourists come, they can invite them home, look after them for a few days and make good money. Our beautiful village gains visibility and potential for more visitors. As for the families, in order not to quarrel, they need to work. My aim is to help them”.
Backed by the support of a strong network of women, Nargiz entered politics in 2020, being elected among thirteen women deputies in the local governance unit (Ayil Kenesh). According to Nargiz, “Men did not approve of women becoming deputies, but we succeeded and we are there to help other women.” She explained how they improved neglected women’s facilities such as maternity hospitals and invested in landscaping and keeping Arslanbob clean to maintain its natural beauty. Currently serving her first year as a public official, she actively facilitates the development of CBT, gender equality and opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Nargiz aims to get elected for the higher level of governance, the Senate (Zhokorgu Kenesh), so she can help women at a higher level.
Nargiz is worried that a lack of higher education might be an obstacle for her to pursue a career in politics and it might be too late for her to obtain a degree considering her age. She also referred to a religious perspective, “There are no restrictions on education in Islam. It is a religion that encourages and prioritises education for women and men alike. When a woman’s understanding of Islam embraces its values of work and study, a man should support her and be understanding of her duty to pass on her knowledge and help others in their studies.”
Nargiz is eager to use her abilities and empowerment to educate her children. She also wants to renovate her house and run a CBT guesthouse, “ Ihave big goals in life. I want my youngest two sons to be educated so that they do not see the difficulties that I face now. I am a strong woman and I always think of how to improve my life. I never thought that if I were a man, then everything would be easier. Women are as good as men. They have more ambitions, but men have more rights.”
Nargiz Mamazhanova
