Between Tradition and Modernity: Marriage Dynamics in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

The demographic literature on union formation in post-communist Europe typically documents retreat from marriage and increase in cohabitation. However, sociological and anthropological studies of post-Soviet Central Asia often point to a resurgence of various traditional norms and practices, including those surrounding marriage, that were suppressed under Soviet rule. We engage these two perspectives on union formation by analyzing transition to first marriage in Kyrgyzstan both before and after the collapse of the USSR. We use uniquely detailed marriage histories from a nationally representative survey conducted in the period 2011-2012 to examine the dynamics of traditional marital practices among that country's two main ethnic groups-Kyrgyz and Uzbeks-focusing on trends in arranged marriages and in marriages involving bride kidnapping. The analysis reveals instructive ethnic and period differences but also indicates an overall decline in the risks of both types of traditional marriage practices in the post-Soviet era. In fact, although the decline has characterized all marriage types, it was more substantial for traditional marriages. We interpret these trends as evidence of continuing modernization of nuptiality behavior in the region.

Patrilocal Residence and Female Labour Supply

“…The pre-marriage characteristics are sociodemographic characteristics (age at marriage, ethnicity, number of siblings), proxy variables for labour market anity (years of education, an indicator for having more than 11 years of education, employment status one and two years prior to the marriage) and a proxy for the prevalence of traditional values (evolution of the marriage decision). With regard to the latter point, we distinguish between love marriage, arranged marriage, and bride capture with the latter two representing traditional values (Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian, 2015;Becker et al, forthcoming), which have potential implications for labour market outcomes of females.…”

Forced Marriage and Birth Outcomes

“…The share of love marriages clearly increased over this period, and the share of both kidnapped and arranged marriages decreased, especially in the most recent years. These trends are in line with Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian (2015). Female respondents were also asked about their own and their husband's ages at marriage, whether their parents received a bride price, whether they ever gave birth, and detailed information on their children.…”

“…Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian (2015) conducted a nationally representative survey in 2011/12 among slightly more than 2,000 households. The authors reported that one third of marriages among Kyrgyz were the result of kidnappings; half of these marriages were of a non-consensual nature.…”

“…In contrast, 14 percent of the men and 21 percent of the women had a university degree. Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian (2015) studied the relative risks of marriage resulting from kidnapping among a representative sample of men and women. They showed that being employed did not make kidnapped marriage any more likely than not being employed.…”

“…Women hold high positions in society and politics; recently, a woman, Roza Otunbayeva, served as President. At the same time, this apparent outpost of liberal values is also a society in which a significant percentage of women -an estimated 16-24 percent (Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian, 2015;Za Reformy i Rezul'tat, 2015) -are married following kidnapping.…”