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Space Exploration

First Kazakh Woman Heads to Space with Blue Origin

Kazakh entrepreneur Danna Karagussova is set to make history as the first woman from Kazakhstan to travel into space. She will join Blue Origin’s upcoming New Shepard NS-36 mission, marking both a personal milestone and a significant event for her country. Suborbital Flight on New Shepard Karagussova will be one of six passengers aboard the suborbital spacecraft, alongside United States entrepreneur Jeff Elgin, engineer Clint Kelly III, startup founder Aaron Newman, Ukrainian businessman Vitalii Ostrovsky, and one participant who has chosen to remain anonymous. For Kelly, this will be his second spaceflight after his participation in the NS-22 mission. Blue Origin has confirmed that the upcoming launch will be its 15th crewed mission. To date, the company’s spacecraft have carried 75 people beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The launch date has not yet been disclosed, but the event will be livestreamed on BlueOrigin.com, X, and YouTube, beginning 30 minutes before liftoff. Who Is Danna Karagussova? Karagussova brings more than 25 years of experience in media, distribution, and event management. She is the co-founder of Portals, a project that combines digital self-regulation tools with science and art. Outside of business, she has climbed both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus, reflecting her resilience and determination. Now, she is turning her focus to space, which she describes not as entertainment but as a profound and transformative journey. Writing on Instagram, she said: “The future of humanity is tied to space. By exploring new horizons, we not only develop technologies but also expand our own potential. For me, the NS-36 mission is part of a research project and a step toward a dream I have pursued for many years.” Kazakhstan’s Other Space Initiatives Karagussova’s mission comes as Kazakhstan expands its space research efforts. In Astana, a unique isolation experiment known as SANA-1 recently began, the country’s first such initiative featuring an all-female crew. Over ten days, participants live inside a spacecraft-simulation module, undergoing medical, cognitive, and engineering assessments. The project, launched by the Eurasian Ventures Group and supported by Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov, aims to inspire young people and build interest in STEM fields. It also contributes to the knowledge base for Kazakhstan’s future space programs and highlights the growing role of women in science.

Gender Equality

From Kyz Kuu to Niqabs: Why Kazakh Women Face a Crisis of Values

Before the 1917 revolution, Kazakh women enjoyed significant freedoms due to their nomadic lifestyle. Living in the remote steppe, women were responsible not only for managing livestock and households but also for defending their families and property, often with weapons in hand. The Soviet era formalized gender equality, enabling women to become leading producers, scientists, decorated soldiers, and politicians. Today, however, these traditions face erosion from two opposing forces: rising consumerism and a growing Arab-influenced Islamization. According to Kazakh political scientist Zamir Karazhanov, women in Kazakhstan are struggling to find their place amid an expanding spiritual vacuum and polarized ideologies. A Reversal in Feminism A centuries-old game, Kyz Kuu (“Catch the Girl”), exemplifies the historical freedom of nomadic Kazakh women. The game, rooted in equestrian tradition, involved a female rider gaining a head start before being pursued by a young horseman. If he caught her and took her ribbon, he could propose marriage. If not, the woman would chase and whip the suitor with a kamcha (whip) in front of spectators, a demonstration of both female skill and independence. During the Soviet period, the roles of Aliya Moldovan and Manshuk Mametova both posthumously named Heroes of the Soviet Union in World War II, underscored female empowerment in Kazakhstan. In contrast, contemporary Kazakhstan is embroiled in a heated debate over the niqab, a face-covering garment not traditionally worn by Kazakhs. This shift has sparked national concern, culminating in the passage of a June 2025 law banning face coverings in public places. Declining Representation and Shifting Priorities Women’s representation in politics and governance has deteriorated, particularly in Kazakhstan’s southern and western regions. Despite officially favorable statistics, political scientist Zamira Karazhanova argues that the state practices only “artificial equality.” Party-imposed quotas for women and youth offer a superficial solution without addressing the systemic barriers to real empowerment. “To achieve gender equality, we must create genuine opportunities for women to participate in politics and civil service,” said Karazhanova. Karazhanov notes a broader cultural shift, with young women increasingly drawn to the lifestyle of tokal, unofficial second wives of wealthy men. These figures flaunt luxury and affluence on social media, eclipsing the appeal of education and career development. “The pursuit of wealthy husbands is becoming a kind of ideology,” Karazhanov said. “Many young women are growing up with no interest in professional growth. They have entirely different ideals.” The Rise of Foreign Influences “Islam in Kazakhstan is becoming Arabized,” Karazhanov stated. “This affects not only how women dress, but also how they are perceived and perceive themselves. Religion is becoming a key part of national identity, even if some believers visit the mosque on Fridays and bars on Saturdays.” Following the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan experienced a spiritual vacuum, filled rapidly by imported religious ideologies. Many religious leaders were educated in Arab countries or Afghanistan, bringing with them foreign dogmas that were alien to traditional Kazakh Islam. Karazhanov stressed that Arabization and radicalization are not confined to Kazakhstan, but also affect Russia, Turkey, and...

Labor Market

Kazakh Women Increasingly Turn to IT Careers, but Face Persistent Pay Gaps

In Kazakhstan, a growing number of women are entering the IT sector, yet their salaries continue to lag behind those of their male counterparts. Women in STEM: Statistics and Trends According to a study by Ranking.kz, the number of female students enrolled in IT disciplines has more than tripled between 2019 and 2024. At the start of the 2019/2020 academic year, only 4,500 women were studying IT at universities across the country. By 2024, that number had surged to 15,300. Interest in information security has been particularly strong, with female enrolment rising 5.8-fold over this period. Despite this growth, the proportion of women among all IT students has actually declined, from 31.7% in 2019 to 24% in 2024. This shift reflects a sharp increase in male enrolment, which has skewed the overall gender balance. Women in Kazakhstan are also showing increasing interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) more broadly. In the most recent academic year, they made up the majority in several scientific disciplines. In physical and chemical sciences, women represented 75% of all students, growing 6.2 times to reach 7,100. In mathematics and statistics, 61.7% of students were women. Labor Market Disparities On the employment front, progress has been less marked. From 2019 to 2024, the share of women working in the information and communications sector remained steady at around 42%. In absolute numbers, female employment in the sector rose from 68,000 to 79,100, a 16.3% increase over five years. Nearly half of these women (35,500) work in Kazakhstan’s two largest cities, Almaty and Astana, reflecting the concentration of IT firms and economic activity in these hubs. However, some regions show stronger female representation: in the Aktobe region, women account for 71.1% of information and communications sector employees; in the Kyzylorda region, the figure stands at 56.9%. The scientific research landscape has also evolved. The number of women in research and development (R&D) increased by 43.6% over the past five years, reaching 12,900. Of these, 2,600 are in engineering and 3,600 in the natural sciences. Gender parity has nearly been achieved in these fields: women constitute 45.4% of engineering researchers and 54.3% in the natural sciences. Gender Pay Gap Persists High wages remain a key draw to the IT sector. In 2024, the average monthly salary in IT stood at $1,395, nearly double the national average of $790. Yet, a significant gender pay gap persists: on average, men in ICT earn 45.4% more than women. For instance, in the field of computer programming, male professionals earn an average of $1,930, compared to $1,327 for women. Global Context and Local Barriers Kazakhstan is not unique in facing gender inequality in IT. Globally, as of 2024, 70% of men and 65% of women had internet access. The United Nations has called for equal opportunities in digital education and careers across genders. In Kazakhstan, the gender gap in internet access is minimal, 96.6% for men and 95.9% for women aged 16-74, but entrenched social stereotypes and cultural norms still hinder...