LOCAL CULTURAL CODES AND GLOBAL INFLUENCES ON THE SOCIAL EXPERIENCE OF AZERBAIJANI WOMEN

This article examines the interaction between local cultural codes and global influences in shaping the social experience of Azerbaijani women. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative interviews with secondary data analysis, the study explores how traditional norms coexist and interact with global gender discourses in post-Soviet Azerbaijan. The findings reveal the emergence of hybrid identities, in which women navigate between culturally embedded expectations and expanding modern opportunities. Particular attention is given to cultural codes as mediating structures that both constrain and enable agency. The study contributes to gender studies and post-Soviet sociology by emphasizing the active role of women in negotiating and transforming cultural norms.