ABSTRACT
The students were of Tajik nationality and al-most certainly would all consider themselves Muslims. Tajikistan differs from countries of the South in having been part of one of the two great superpowers. This gave them access to a fairly well-developed infrastructure, including universal primary and secondary education and relatively easy access to tertiary education, especially for those living in urban areas. Most people in Tajikistan love having their photos taken, provided they get copies afterwards. Without gender-sensitive analysis, this difference tends to be skated over or hidden from view. Gender, for instance, is discursive. This means that gender norms—those characteristics attributed to masculinity and femininity within a particular society—are made known through discourse that suggests to community members the importance of demonstrating conformity. Feminism started out as a movement to address the oppression of women as a group, and for many feminists this is still its sole function.
