Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine how, under the influence of Abai Kunanbayev’s works, perceptions of women, their social roles, and their spiritual world began to change in the 19th century. A comprehensive approach was employed as the methodology, including a descriptive-analytical method for the study of the poet’s literary texts and a historical-cultural analysis of the socio-historical conditions of Kazakh women’s lives. The research analyses the functions of women in A. Kunanbayev’s works, particularly their social role as mothers, wives, mentors, as well as the depiction of issues such as emancipation, gender violence, and cultural stereotypes. The main findings of the study indicate that in A. Kunanbayev’s work, the image of the Kazakh woman acquires new meanings, particularly through the condemnation of patriarchal norms and violence, which were widespread during the pre-Abai period.