Family Values of the Indigenous Peoples of Southern Siberia: Experts' Views on Reproduction and Strengthening

Abstract

This study examines the reproduction of family values as a process of intergenerational transmission of significant cultural norms and practices. It focuses on the value-normative sphere of the family culture of the titular ethnic groups of Southern Siberia in the modern period. The aim of this article is to use expert assessments to identify perceptions of the mechanisms and means of reproducing traditional family values among the Altai, Tuvan, and Khakas peoples. The author examines aspects of this topic such as the reproduction of family values, significant moral qualities, and the means and symbols of reproduction. Attention is paid to proposals for strengthening family foundations. The practical significance of this study lies in the potential use of this data in developing regional programs for preserving and strengthening traditional family values, as well as in educational and cultural activities. The methodological framework is based on the principles of dialectics, methods of analysis and synthesis, and a dispositional concept of personality, which allows for the consideration of family values as the highest level of regulation of social behavior. The empirical basis is data from a qualitative expert survey conducted in 2023 among 15 specialists representing the Altai, Tuvan, and Khakass ethnicities. The study's novelty lies in its examination of expert positions on the reproduction and strengthening of family values, taking into account ethnocultural specifics. Conclusions. Experts unanimously indicate that the most consistently reproduced values are those of kinship—reliance on family ties and multigenerational relationships (this position was shared by 11 of the 15 participants). The moral ideal of the family includes the universal value of honesty (highlighted by almost all experts—13 people), as well as ethnically specific traits: peacefulness among the Altai and Khakass people, and hospitality among the Tuvans. Folklore (proverbs, tales), family and calendar holidays, and symbolic artifacts (natural objects, ritual structures) serve as effective means of dissemination. Social media (VK, Telegram), national television, and public organizations (women's councils, elders' councils) were identified as key platforms for reproduction. Expert proposals cover a range of measures: from economic support for large families to the creation of new cultural facilities and restrictive anti-alcohol policies.