Depictions of Women in Central Asia

A photo collection

Me looking at Kurmanjan Datka's image in Osh, Kyrgyzstan

When I lived in Central Asia, I was fascinated by the depictions of women in public art. Women are often seen as second-class citizens throughout the region. Depictions of men are standard as each country adopted a national hero like Timur in Uzbekistan or Manas in Kyrgyzstan. I previously highlighted some of these women in an earlier piece, Feminist Heroes of Central Asia. I had not traveled to Tajikistan or Kazakhstan when I wrote that piece. Once I traveled there, I gathered more images of women. I hope you enjoy this photo collection. As you scroll, I hope you notice who and how the women are depicted. All photos are by me.

A Kazakh dancer in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan

Uzbek women at Ichan Qala Hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Nodira in Kokand, Uzbekistan

A Kazakh woman in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tomyris in Khujand, Tajikistan

Historic woman in Khujand, Tajikistan

An ideal Uzbek family in Qarshi, Uzbekistan

A young Kyrgyz girl in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

A Kyrgyz woman in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Tajik dancer in Khujand, Tajikistan

Kurmanjan Datka in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Mourning Mother in Andijan, Uzbekistan

A panel from Alisher Navoi Metro Station in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A panel from Alisher Navoi Metro Station from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A panel from Alisher Navoi Metro Station from Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Mother and Child in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Young couple in Khujand, Tajkistan