Degree Of Religiosity:Influence And Change Of Women's Lifestyle In Zhanaozen

In every member of society religion is manifested in a different level of commitment or religiosity.If we consider Kazakh women,who proclaim themselves as ethnic Muslims,it seems that they translate their religious believes in a wide range of spectrum.A sociological analysis can be used as a way to understand how women assess the role of religion in personal life and in society.Using this approach it is possible to trace the mutual influence of religious and social in its various manifestations.The present study was designed to examine how level of religiosity influences lifestyle of women.With this aim,questionnaires and interviews were used to observe local and national dynamics of ethnic Muslim women,living in the town of Zhanaozen,Kazakhstan as well as personal assessment of individual preference,social position,and life course of respondents.Taking its current shape due to historical prerequisites,ongoing developments and secular character of research area,Islam in Zhanaozen is presented as an integral part to ethnic identity of its female citizens;need to add the religion in the area is also dynamic,receptive to modern influences,complex,and multidimensional.The findings suggest that several strategies can be identified within the Islamic tradition of the research area:1)social positioning as ethnic Muslims;2)special underlining the subjective religious beliefs;3)recognition of diverse social and religious practices.The reasons for the growth of religion could be explained not only as a result of religious revival,but should be sought in the psychological mechanisms of the perception of women.The statements of believers in interviews and in the questionnaires allowed saying that most often from social context depends the forms of ritualism and their intensity.New generations of women often in no case question the value of family and relationships with the older generation,but produce their own versions of religious views and behavior that would correspond to the present.Although the topic of religiosity is quite wide,yet another opportunity was realized to isolate those specific features that characterize religion as a living phenomenon at the present stage of civilization existence.Consideration of gender aspect was contributed to the strengthening of the specificity of addressed questions,and to its practical application.