European International Journal of Pedagogics
22
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
22-25
DOI
3
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
14 April 2025
ACCEPTED
10 May 2025
PUBLISHED
12 June 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Establishing Family and
Mahalla Cooperation in
Career Guidance for
Students Based on A
Gender Approach
Barotova Shokhsanam
Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Preschool and
Primary Education, Assistant of the Department of Preschool Education,
Uzbekistan
Abstract:
This article analyzes the importance and
effective strategies of family and community
cooperation in the process of guiding students toward
careers based on a gender approach. It explores the
social role of family and community institutions in
overcoming gender stereotypes and their involvement
in the career orientation of young people. The article
also
presents
modern
methods,
practical
recommendations, and the outcomes of social activities,
offering ways to improve this process in the future.
Keywords:
Gender approach, equality, overcoming
stereotypes, individual abilities, family cooperation,
career guidance.
Introduction:
The education system plays a crucial role
not only in providing knowledge and skills but also in
preparing students for their future careers. Career
guidance helps students choose professions that align
with their abilities, interests, and the demands of the
labor market. At the same time, the issue of gender
equality remains a pressing concern in modern
education, as eliminating gender stereotypes and
ensuring equal opportunities are essential for the social
and economic development of society. Career guidance
is the process of directing students toward professions
they may choose in the future, taking into account their
abilities, interests, and social needs. It aims to help
students select a career that aligns with their personal
interests, capabilities, and the demands of the labor
market. This process not only ensures the future success
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European International Journal of Pedagogics
of students but also contributes to increasing
economic efficiency.
Gender equality
is a fundamental human right that
ensures equal access to opportunities and resources
for every individual, regardless of their gender. Gender
equality also contributes to reducing poverty,
improving health outcomes, and fostering economic
growth and development. The significance of this
principle lies in its ability to promote fairness and equal
treatment for all individuals, regardless of gender
identity. Gender equality in areas such as education,
social protection, maternal and child health, labor and
employment, and decision-making processes is a key
driver of societal well-being. Gender equality in
education means that all students have equal
opportunities regardless of their gender. Today, there
are serious issues in our society concerning gender
equality and inter-gender relations. In particular,
traditional stereotypes in education and career
guidance processes hinder young people from making
free and informed career choices. Girls are often
directed toward teaching, healthcare, or service-
related professions, while boys are encouraged to
pursue more “technical” careers such as engineering,
construction, or IT. For example, in Uzbekistan, over
70% of students admitted to engineering universities
are male, while in medical fields, the majority are
female (according to 2022 statistics). Family and
community institutions play a vital role in shaping
young people's values, providing social support, and
eliminating gender stereotypes. Therefore, it is
essential to develop cooperation between families and
communities in guiding students toward careers based
on a gender-sensitive approach. In this process, family
and community institutions serve as key factors in
shaping young people's awareness. The gender
approach is a conceptual and practical framework
aimed at ensuring social, cultural, economic, and
political equality between the sexes (men and
women). It examines gender differences not from a
biological, but from a social and cultural perspective,
and strives to create equal opportunities for both men
and women.
Currently, determining the level of development of
countries in areas such as social affairs, economy,
politics, law, and culture, as well as their position in
global progress, has become increasingly important. In
particular, rankings and indexes compiled based on
various indicators provide the opportunity to assess
the state of any country in specific fields by showing its
comparative standing. A country’s improved position
in such rankings and indexes also reflects progress in
its social, economic, political, and legal environments.
Therefore, many countries around the world are
implementing targeted measures to improve their
standing in international indexes and rankings. In recent
years, Uzbekistan has also undertaken significant efforts
to improve its position in international rankings and
indexes, with special attention given to the issue of
gender equality. Important steps have been taken to
ensure gender equality in the country. For instance, in
2019, the Law “On Guarantees of Equal
Rights and
Opportunities for Women and Men” was adopted in the
Republic of Uzbekistan. International organizations such
as UN Women are supporting projects aimed at
encouraging girls in Uzbekistan to pursue STEM fields.
The “Girls in STEM” initiative, for
example, offers free
programming and robotics courses for girls,
contributing to the promotion of gender equality. As a
result of such reforms, it is noteworthy that the share of
female students admitted to higher education
institutions increased to 40% in 2022, which marks a
significant growth compared to previous years.
Gender theory
is based on the principles of human
rights and equality, aiming to eliminate injustices based
on gender. In the fields of employment and education,
gender stereotypes often lead young people toward
uncertain career paths, thereby limiting their
opportunities. The family serves as the primary
environment for upbringing, and the values formed
there influence a young person's attitude toward future
professions. The community (mahalla), as an additional
social environment, supports youth and helps instill the
principles of gender equality. Theoretically, applying a
gender-sensitive approach in education and career
guidance helps young people fully realize their
potential. Gender stereotypes present in society often
lead to directing girls and boys towards different
professions. For example, girls are more often
recommended "softer" careers such as teaching,
medicine, and the arts, while boys are steered towards
technical and scientific fields. These stereotypes hinder
young people from fully realizing their interests and
abilities, and contribute to gender inequality in the labor
market.
The family is the primary environment for raising
children. Parents and other close relatives can either
reinforce or eliminate gender stereotypes. If family
members are informed about gender equality, they will
encourage children to think freely and choose a
profession based on their own interests. Therefore, it is
necessary to organize seminars and awareness
campaigns to educate parents on gender issues.
As an important part of social life, the mahalla
(community) fulfills functions such as supporting youth,
ensuring social security, and contributing to education
and upbringing. Mahalla leaders and activists can
organize trainings, seminars, and workshops to reduce
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European International Journal of Pedagogics
gender stereotypes, actively collaborating with
parents and youth. Mahalla resources create favorable
opportunities for working together with educational
institutions in this regard. The gender approach theory
aims to create equal opportunities for men and women
in society, promoting the abandonment of traditional
stereotypes in education and career guidance. Family
and mahalla, as social institutions, play a significant
role in addressing issues arising from gender
discrimination in employment and the labor market.
The gender approach serves to equalize students'
opportunities in the career selection process.
Traditionally, in Uzbek society, certain professions may
be perceived as "male" or "female," which can lead to
young people being directed toward fields that do not
align with their abilities. Gender equality principles
encourage students to choose careers based on their
interests and capabilities, free from stereotypes. For
example, it is important to guide girls not only toward
traditional professions (such as teaching or healthcare)
but also toward engineering, IT, or other technical
fields. Similarly, boys should be supported in choosing
creative or service-oriented professions. The family is
one of the most significant factors influencing a
student's career choice process. Parents often actively
participate in determining their children's future
professional paths. However, due to gender
stereotypes, some families may impose restrictions on
career choices for girls and boys. For instance, it is
common to guide girls toward "safe" and "stable"
professions, while encouraging boys to pursue "high-
paying" or "prestigious" careers.
To involve families in this process based on the gender
approach, the following measures can be taken:
•
Conduct seminars for parents on gender
equality principles, overcoming stereotypes in career
choices, and supporting their children’s abilities.
•
Hold open discussions with children about
career choices to help identify their interests and
talents.
•
Share success stories of women and men who
have broken gender stereotypes with families, such as
examples of female engineers or male teachers.
To strengthen cooperation between family and the
mahalla, the following strategies can be applied:
Organizing local events, such as open house days,
seminars for workshops, and career guidance fairs at
mahalla centers. During these events, parents and
students can learn about various professions, and
successful professionals from the mahalla can be
involved as mentors for students. These programs are
particularly effective in promoting STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers for
girls. Conducting awareness campaigns aimed at
eliminating gender stereotypes between the mahalla
and families, such as distributing promotional materials
to support girls and boys equally, can be beneficial. The
mahalla and families can collaborate with schools to
develop career guidance projects. For example, school
psychologists and mahalla activists can work together to
identify students' interests.
The collaboration between family and mahalla is of
great importance in guiding students toward careers
based on a gender approach. While the family serves as
the first step in choosing a professional path for young
people, the mahalla enriches this process with social
support and resources. Through strategies developed
based on gender equality principles, students can be
helped to choose careers that align with their abilities.
This contributes not only to the personal development
of young people but also to the overall well-being of
society. Ensuring career guidance and gender equality in
the education process is a crucial factor for Uzbekistan’s
social and economic development. Eliminating gender
stereotypes, creating equal opportunities, and guiding
students to choose careers based on their abilities can
help not only build a just society but also enable each
individual to realize their potential. Although
Uzbekistan has taken significant steps in this direction,
greater achievements can be made through systemic
reforms, teacher training, and changing public
consciousness. To inspire future generations to pursue
their dreams, collaborative efforts from the education
system, the state, and society are essential.
REFERENCES
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–
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