Globalization and Youth Culture in Kazakhstan

Abstract

This paper is focused on the pilot quantitative research on youth culture building and gender construction through the Internet, media, popular culture, and computer games in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. There are some considerations of global, regional, and local contents of the Internet, media, and popular culture in students’ preferences in that research. In this study it was indicated that Russian context is spread in the Internet and media among the students’ interests while global one is widespread in popular culture. Although local Kazakh aspects are also presented on the Internet, media, and popular culture, it is not sufficient enough. Additionally, it was argued that Internet, media, popular culture, and computer games construct gender identity and sometimes gender equality of young people in present-day Kazakhstan.