The Influence of Cultural and Religious Values on Gender Roles: A Bibliometric Analysis of Traditional and Innovative Approaches

Zharkynbek Abikenov, Serikkhan Zhuzeyev, Elmira Ilyassova, Sergazy Kudaibergenov

Pharos Journal of Theology, 2026

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DOI 10.46222/pharosjot.107.3035
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

The intersection of gender roles and cultural values is undergoing a complex conceptual transformation, shifting from traditional patriarchal paradigms to more innovative and inclusive foundations. Despite the extensive empirical research in this area, a comprehensive structural analysis of the scientific landscape at a macro level remains to be conducted. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to identify the intellectual structure, thematic clusters and future trends in the global scientific literature on the influence of cultural values on gender roles. The study’s methodological design was based on the international PRISMA protocol standards. The empirical base comprised 1017 English-language scientific articles published in the Scopus database between 2016 and 2026. The Biblioshiny package and the VOSviewer software, which are integrated into the R-Studio environment, were used to analyse the performance of bibliographic data and map the scientific landscape. The results of the publication dynamics assessment showed that scientific productivity increased exponentially in 2024-2025. Co-occurrence and cluster analysis revealed that the research landscape can be divided into two distinct paradigms, which are heavily influenced by the macro-regional context. The first paradigm, the ‘traditional-pragmatic’ cluster, is characterised by a focus on the family institution and economic emancipation, and is prevalent in developing countries. In contrast, the second paradigm, the «nnovative-inclusive» cluster, focuses on issues such as gender identity, sexual minorities, and stigma deconstruction, and is predominant in Western countries. Rather than directly evaluating policy effectiveness, the bibliometric trends indicate a growing scholarly consensus that universal gender equality policies often face implementation challenges. The findings challenge the effectiveness of universal gender equality policies. The transition from traditional values to an inclusive, post-materialist paradigm depends strictly on the local cultural context. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications for sociologists and policymakers when developing differential social strategies.