Shalayeva K. Life-styling mechanisms in the context of feminist paradigm. Manuscript.

With consideration of gender component and on the basis of feminist analysis the thesis aims at the conceptualisation of the influences that social mechanisms produce over the life styles. The feminist research of life styles and social mechanisms was demonstrated. The notion of the "life style" with consideration of gender characteristics was introduced. The structure of the life style and different types of life styles were determined, gender representations of life styles were described. The notion of the "social mechanism of life style formation" was introduced; related social mechanisms were classified according their functions. Life-styling mechanisms were characterised on the basis of gender-determined approach. Feminist methodology in sociology was analysed as a basis of the life style research. Biography study "The Life Styles of Youth" was undertaken; methodical recommendations for the usage of this method in the life style research were developed. The "life style" is the standardised habitualised complex practices of operation in socio-cultural spaces. The life styles are composed of the basis and the top. The basis is established of the socialised patterns and skills of gender-oriented life activities. The top is composed of the personal reflections and choices related to the socially determined representations of gender. Gender fundamentally determines the strategies of interpersonal actions. Therefore gender characteristics lie in the nature of construction and distinction of life styles. The "social mechanism of life style formation" is a complex integrated system of the institutionalised measures of normative patters of thinking and acting, attracted to exercise social control over the life activities of social groups and individuals. Under the influence of the social mechanisms that are lead by different functions the life styles are constructed. The following features of the life-styling mechanisms were distinguished. Sex-reproducing mechanisms reproduce the biological "sex" on the basisof social criteria that affirm sex-role differentiation, and are realised in, for instance, pregnancy. Construction and representation of daily "female" and "male" life styles appear as confirm behavior and is determined by socio-psychological mechanisms, including socialisation. Legitimised social values execute the centralised control over the individual life activities, that is reflected in mass formation and dissemination of the socially legitimised life practices, determined by gender scenario and fixed in the value mechanisms. Institutionalised inequality of the macrosocial groups on the basis of their gender characteristics is influenced by the stratifying mechanisms as social roles, statuses, classes, prestige, that are interrelated and express the gender order. Dissemination of patters of gender-oriented life activities on the basis of which the daily life styles are constructed is organised by the communicative and symbol mechanisms, first of all, mass culture. Proliferation of standardisation of the "necessary" people, exemplification of the gender-role models, affirmation of social statuses and legitimacy is executed by the instrumental and consumption mechanisms, mainly through the mass media and advertising industry. Validisation of life styles occurs under the influence of gender normativity as the effect of affirmative mechanisms, dominating among which is the relations of power.