Experts: Caucasian women get emancipated due to changes in the role of Islam

On September 13, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (known as MGIMO) hosted the next seminar from the cycle "The Caucasus in the past and the present (society and politics, economy and culture)." Experts have noted that in Northern Caucasus, the Islamic component in the relationship between men and women is increasing, while women are getting new opportunities for socialization.

Denis Sokolov, the chief of the RAMCOM Research Centre, has presented the report "Fear and family honour as a man's fear and honour", based on the results of his participation in the research of migrant communities in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.

According to the Denis Sokolov's report, among many challenges for immigrants from rural communities, the challenge to the status of a man in the family is of high importance.

"Under the city pressure, a community can no longer properly control a family. The community does not ensure the economic well-being of its members. Earlier, that was facilitated by works on collective farms. At present, there is competition in a more open global market, including in a marriage market. Marriage ceases to be a method of political commerce within a rural society, but it becomes a way for a daughter to leave a village, and for a young man from a city to marry a young woman from 'his' circle and thus avoid competition in the marriage market. Women get new opportunities for socialization and economic independence," Denis Sokolov stated.

Meanwhile, he has also noted the increasing effect of the Islamic component in the relationships between people of different sexes and generations.

"For the younger generation, Islam serves as a legalization of any act. For example, polygamy used to be explained logically. They said there were not enough men after a war and women agreed to have a family even as a second wife. And now, when speak of polygamy, people more often indicate this is the permission of Allah, and that is all," Denis Sokolov said.

"There is an interesting trend towards greater emancipation of girls and women precisely due to the growing role of Islam," noted in turn Irina Starodubrovskaya, the chief of the scientific direction "Political Economy and Regional Development" at the Gaidar Institute. "Look through social networks and pages of young Muslim parents. Their enthusiasm for daughters is clearly different from the traditionally restrained one."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.