Public Shaming and Resistance in the Context of the Bride Kidnapping Phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

This dissertation examines the operation of public shaming and resistance in the context of the bride kidnapping phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan. The revived practice of bride kidnapping phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan causes debates in society. Although the discourse of bride kidnapping is represented in both the media and academia, the personal experiences of women go largely unnoticed. Women’s refusal to accept the position of a kidnapped bride is perceived as a disputable choice that is socially punished by the practice of public shaming. This study explores the gender construction of kidnapped women and the reasons behind their position in the framework of bride kidnapping as both a practice and a set of social norms. The narratives and experiences of women are central to this study. By emphasizing women’s voices, I explore the feeling of being publicly shamed deploying the concept of affect. While public shaming is a typical characteristic of the bride kidnapping phenomenon, women’s resistance in this particular context as well as within culture generally is a completely new a potentially transformative form of social interaction. This research aims to highlight the women’s personal experiences. Resisting the phenomenon of bride kidnapping allows women to create alternative views on their stance with regard to the operation of normative social power. Through the affective approach, I make visible women’s experiences in the context of bride kidnapping in cultural and social discourse.