Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2005
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2005
Abstract
This article is an attempt to study the impact of socio-economic factors affecting women's attitudes from a sociological point of view. The data of this research was collected by using a questionnaire.
A sample of 384 women aged 25-54 from Shiraz city, Iran were included in this study.
To explain gender ...
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This article is an attempt to study the impact of socio-economic factors affecting women's attitudes from a sociological point of view. The data of this research was collected by using a questionnaire.
A sample of 384 women aged 25-54 from Shiraz city, Iran were included in this study.
To explain gender inequality, some theoretical approaches such as "Conflict", "Resources" and "Collins" model have been applied. Gender inequality was considered in five different areas such as: social participation of women, the status of women in the family and lab our market, civil and legal rights of women and gender stereotyping.
The result of research show that there is a significant relationship between independent variables (women's education, women's income, father's and mother's education, husbands' income, education of parents and mother's employment status) and dependent variable (gender inequality).
The results also indicate that the most important variables are women's education, mother's education, employment status and the type of women's jobs and these 5 variables together can explain 57/9 present of the variance of data.
Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2005
Abstract
Women constitute half of the population and their position is important in development process of the countries. Thus, improving women's status is a necessary condition for a sustainable development in every country. To reach this goal many efforts have been made to empower women throughout the world.
In ...
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Women constitute half of the population and their position is important in development process of the countries. Thus, improving women's status is a necessary condition for a sustainable development in every country. To reach this goal many efforts have been made to empower women throughout the world.
In Iran, during the last three decades, the status of women has considerably improved due to socio-economic development. Some improvements have taken place in favour of women at national and international levels which resulted in narrowing down the gap between men and women. Using the data from the country censuses (mainly from 1966 onwards) and other sources (mainly a survey on socio- economic characteristics of households in 2001), this paper aims to examine the improvements in women's lives compared to those for men. Findings show that improvements in women's status in terms of education, decision making in the family and health have been outstanding. But their situation in terms of social, cultural and economic
participation has not been improved remarkably. A steady improvement of women's status in public and private sphere is noticeable.
Some factors such as government policies towards development and population, changing Islamic laws, and willingness of women to enhance their situation are the main ones strengthening women's situation in the society.
Volume 3, Issue 1 , March 2005
Abstract
Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this article investigates an increase in number of women in higher education. The paper suggests that after the Iranian Revolution (1979), the number of women in
higher education has increased substantially. Then, the convergence! of women's social demand ...
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Using quantitative and qualitative methods, this article investigates an increase in number of women in higher education. The paper suggests that after the Iranian Revolution (1979), the number of women in
higher education has increased substantially. Then, the convergence! of women's social demand for higher education based on the generalized growing model of Solo-Swan and Pooling technique, is examined in various provinces of the country between "1984-2003".
In general, the appraisal of convergent model for women (1984-2003), indicates that the convergence, concerning women's social demand for higher education has not occurred among the various provinces of Iran.
Therefore, the hypothesis is considered for two periods of ten years, from 1984 to 1993 and 1994 to 2003. The analysis implies that women's social demand for higher education at two periods have converged in various provinces. The assessment reveals that women and men convergent pace2 are different, so that the convergent pace of women's demand for higher education has been more than men at two given periods of time, and it shows that the convergence in social demand for higher education varies between men and women.
Volume 3, Issue 1 , March 2005
Abstract
In recent years, women entrepreneurship has developed universally and has been a concern throughout the world. Many researchers believe that the activities of female entrepreneurs have had a productive role on the economy. Women's economic activities constitute 25 to 35 percent of world's economic activities. ...
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In recent years, women entrepreneurship has developed universally and has been a concern throughout the world. Many researchers believe that the activities of female entrepreneurs have had a productive role on the economy. Women's economic activities constitute 25 to 35 percent of world's economic activities. Women's desire for entrepreneurship activities is the result of some factors such as unemployment, low income and job dissatisfaction. Identifying these factors enable us to develop entrepreneurship activities of women. The present article tries to find a model to explain and define the women's entrepreneurship. In this study, data is collected by using a questionnaire and interview technique, 139 Iranian female entrepreneurs entered in this study.
Mahmoud Ketabi; Behjat Yazkhasti; Zahra Farokhi Rastabi
Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 2003
Abstract
Empowerment is a multi-staged process in which women’s growing awareness of their inner needs and wants strengthens their confidence and ability to implement their goals. This research studies the factors related to women’s empowerment. The theoretical framework is women’s empowerment ...
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Empowerment is a multi-staged process in which women’s growing awareness of their inner needs and wants strengthens their confidence and ability to implement their goals. This research studies the factors related to women’s empowerment. The theoretical framework is women’s empowerment for participation in development which has been strongly influenced by feminist thought, particularly liberal feminism. A survey was conducted on 380 women between 20 to 25 years of age residing in Isfahan. The research found that higher education level, access to financial resources, better health, legal property rights, eradication of labor market discrimination, and elimination of traditional beliefs contribute to women’s empowerment.
Shahrzad Salehin
Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 2003
Abstract
Rural women spend a considerable portion of their time and energy performing activities that are not calculated in production and the national product. Women’s increasing inequality and decreasing resource benefits are glaring reflections of this condition. This study aims to identify women’s ...
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Rural women spend a considerable portion of their time and energy performing activities that are not calculated in production and the national product. Women’s increasing inequality and decreasing resource benefits are glaring reflections of this condition. This study aims to identify women’s activities in the village of Dona, in Mazandaran province, and the time they allocate to each activity. It applied qualitative research over a period of four seasons in 2002. Women spent two-thirds of their waking hours in productive activities, corresponding to an average work time of 10 hours and 26 minutes per day. On average, they spent 17 minutes a day on personal hygiene, health, and leisure-time. No time was spent on education and reading.
Hamid Dihim; Masoumeh Vahabi
Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 2003
Abstract
This study applies empowerment theory to examine women’s access to the credit system. The theory distinguishes five stages of welfare, awareness, access, participation, and control and - focuses on gender equality in the development process. Survey research was conducted in 1 the city of Tehran ...
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This study applies empowerment theory to examine women’s access to the credit system. The theory distinguishes five stages of welfare, awareness, access, participation, and control and - focuses on gender equality in the development process. Survey research was conducted in 1 the city of Tehran and attempted to answer questions such as: To what extent do women interact with the credit system? To what degree do they benefit from these services? In what stage of empowerment are the women located? Women mainly interacted with banks to pay household utilities bills and manage savings accounts. They used the banking system for savings and deposits (particularly qarz ol-hassaneh) more than for accessing credit resources. Those who were successful in securing loans had a lower sense of being discriminated against. The requested loan amounts were not significant enough to support major investments. Among the five stages of empowerment theory, the women were in the awareness and access stages.
Mostafa Emadzadeh
Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 2003
Abstract
This article argues that investment in female education not only reduces the gender gap, but also leads to greater efficiency, increasing production, and higher income. The study is based on human capital theory, with an emphasis on gender. Secondary data was utilized. The findings reveal that increased ...
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This article argues that investment in female education not only reduces the gender gap, but also leads to greater efficiency, increasing production, and higher income. The study is based on human capital theory, with an emphasis on gender. Secondary data was utilized. The findings reveal that increased education similarly affect women and men’s wage levels, however, greater investment in higher levels of education (because of increasing financial and opportunity costs) produce lower returns. Given the fact that the average education level of women in Iran and most of the world is less than men, female education has a greater final output than male education. Additionally, economists believe that female education has a higher social return because of the important role educated women play in promoting the health, well-being, and education of their children. Educated women are more active in the labor force, in production and income-generating activities, pay more taxes and as such, contribute to the expansion of the tax base.
Zhaleh Shaditalab
Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 2003
Abstract
Development experts have distinguished citizenship control as the highest form and degree of participation. In such participation, people have decision-making power in issues that affect their daily lives. The identification of variables that ensure women and men’s ability to control society’s ...
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Development experts have distinguished citizenship control as the highest form and degree of participation. In such participation, people have decision-making power in issues that affect their daily lives. The identification of variables that ensure women and men’s ability to control society’s affairs is important for the realization of participation. This article aims to identify the different forms of women’s social participation and its related factors. It is based on a study that was conducted in the city of Tehran. The analytical framework was assisted by theory application and previous empirical studies. Six forms of participation were identified: civil, social support, ,cultural-entertainment, local, charity-religious, and revolutionary. Civil participation was the least prevalent among women, while charity-religious participation was the most widespread. In general, the level of social participation in Tehran was lower than expected.
Volume 1, Issue 6 , June 2003
Abstract
This article considers women’s struggle as a part of the social movement emphasizing classical and modern perspectives. It also attempts to examine the factors which are inhibiting women, forcing them to call for change of their conditions. In the 90s, social movement thinkers emphasized the interaction ...
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This article considers women’s struggle as a part of the social movement emphasizing classical and modern perspectives. It also attempts to examine the factors which are inhibiting women, forcing them to call for change of their conditions. In the 90s, social movement thinkers emphasized the interaction process in social movements and social structures. In this view, instead of emphasizing strategies, they examined rehabilitation and changes of social identities of group members. Based on the feminist definition of the women’s movement, the need for change is common among all women and emphasis could be made on the demand for change in a framework that creates social sensitivity about women’s issues and their hidden needs. The activist groups of women can be categorized under four groups: 1. Women who are on the fringes of power. 2. Women in mass media. 3. Women at the universities. 4. Women in general. The author considers the basic challenges of Iranian women’s social movement to be: A pretentious backing of women, misconception about feminism, irrelevant support of women, lack of common language and interaction among activists in modern NGOs and traditional groups.
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2003
Abstract
The present Iranian labor market is faced with a huge number of people who are seeking work and with insufficient growth of job opportunities, it will entail increasing rate of unemployment. The process of job creation has neither met the demands of the unemployed, nor those of university graduates, ...
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The present Iranian labor market is faced with a huge number of people who are seeking work and with insufficient growth of job opportunities, it will entail increasing rate of unemployment. The process of job creation has neither met the demands of the unemployed, nor those of university graduates, and the country's population as a whole. In this study, a review will be made of the major economic policies at the macro level with their impacts on women's work force in the labor market. Policies such as reducing fertility rate, expansion of education, controlling inflation rate, privatization, and economic growth were analyzed in this study. The findings indicated that while economic growth improves macroeconomic capacities, but unemployment rate is reduced only slightly. The fertility rate has been reduced noticeably in recent years; however, it had minimal impact on women's participation rate. Inflation encourages women to enter labor market. With an increasing number of women graduating from universities,
the labor market will not be able to meet the demands of the female population and in the near future, the country will encounter a new crisis: "The crisis of young unemployed women graduates".
Volume 1, Issue 6 , June 2003
Abstract
Women’s economic behavior, particularly due to their ever increasing contribution to the economic and social activities, needs to be further studied. This article, examines women’s participation in the financial markets. A field study gathered data from the city of Tehran, to review main factors ...
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Women’s economic behavior, particularly due to their ever increasing contribution to the economic and social activities, needs to be further studied. This article, examines women’s participation in the financial markets. A field study gathered data from the city of Tehran, to review main factors of women demanding loan and credit in the financial market (with an emphasis on the banking system). In this model, economic factors such as average income, interest rate, length of return, size of household, age, employment, education, marital status, saving and investment behavior were included in the. The research findings indicate that the most important economic factors that influence women to demand loans are the average income of women and their household as well as the length of return. That is to say, with the increase of income or the length of return, women’s demand for credit will increase.
Volume 1, Issue 6 , June 2003
Abstract
This article discusses the capabilities of nomad women and emphasizes on their role in the productive economy of 72 field locations of Hamadan province. The article reviews economic, social and cultural characteristics of nomad women, to present their economic status. Participatory Rural Appraisal and ...
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This article discusses the capabilities of nomad women and emphasizes on their role in the productive economy of 72 field locations of Hamadan province. The article reviews economic, social and cultural characteristics of nomad women, to present their economic status. Participatory Rural Appraisal and use of secondary data analysis were the main sources of information. Observations and research findings show that activities such as animal husbandry, food processing, and tribal moves are dependent on the work of women. Nomad women’s share in productive and non-productive activities is higher than men. Also their participation rate in social and cultural activities is much higher than men. Nomad women’s share in economic activities is equivalent to 85%. There is a significant and direct relation between women’s number of work hours and the income of the household. Also, women’s participation rate is positively related to their age and position.
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2003
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the family, social and political positions of women in the Safavid period, with the aime of understanding thr gender stereotypes in a different dimensions and ears. A historical explanatory approach has been utilized for the research. Research finding demonstrates ...
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The purpose of this study is to examine the family, social and political positions of women in the Safavid period, with the aime of understanding thr gender stereotypes in a different dimensions and ears. A historical explanatory approach has been utilized for the research. Research finding demonstrates in Iran, the situation of women after the Mongolian invasion and during the Safavid era was subject to fewer transformations. Women in these periods did not enjoy legal rights, individual freedoms, personal access to wealth and ownership. Families would offer their daughters as gifts to kings, as part of the royal harems, so that through their daughters they could gain higher social and economic status. Gender stereotypes that existed during that time, and perhaps persist to date and continue to limit the advanement of women.
Volume 1, Issue 6 , June 2003
Abstract
Women’s participation means their total involvement in the process of decision makings and implementation of all social phenomena. This is a precondition for the success of all health programs. Women’s participation in the maintenance of the society’s health is considered important. The program ...
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Women’s participation means their total involvement in the process of decision makings and implementation of all social phenomena. This is a precondition for the success of all health programs. Women’s participation in the maintenance of the society’s health is considered important. The program of women health volunteers not only provides the required skills and training to women volunteers it aims to disseminate health messages to all Iranian families. To evaluate the success of the program and the review of its impact on awareness- raising and changes in women’s behavior, a longitudinal survey was conducted on two groups of women with similarities in socio-economic conditions (one covered by the study and a control group) in the Oroumeih district. The study was done before and after the implementation of the program. Comparison of the data gathered on awareness-raising of women in the two groups, demonstrated a significant difference due to the activities of health volunteers which had raised the level of the awareness of the society. However, behavioral changes among the groups were not significant. It seems that to review changes in the behavior require more than the one year period of the study.
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2003
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2003
Abstract
Globalization is an encompassing phenomenon, which has created challenges for all of humanity. The family, as a social institution, has experienced some transformations brought about by globalization. The issue under study in this paper examines the potential impact of globalization on the family and ...
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Globalization is an encompassing phenomenon, which has created challenges for all of humanity. The family, as a social institution, has experienced some transformations brought about by globalization. The issue under study in this paper examines the potential impact of globalization on the family and the challenges and the opportunities that are created by globalization for today's family. The results of this study point to fact that the family in the era of globalization will continue to survive. However, there will be changes in the family structure and in the relations between family members. The typical nuclear family will experiences transformations, and greater varieties of family types. Additionally, the power structure of patriarchy within families, women's greater awareness, their social participation, employment and education, will transform their status in the family and society. While globalization can have the potential to create opportunities for the eradication of patriarchy and increase of women's rights, it also holds many challenges in the realm of identity and structural relations of family members. As such, it is important to understand globalization in its various dimensions and its possible impact, so that its positive opportunities can be harnessed and its challenges be appropriately addressed.
Volume 2, Issue 2 , June 2003
Abstract
The aim of the present article is to report the findings of a study on the condition of divorce that is Osre-o-Hara}. Woman can request divorce for the hardships in her married life (Osre-o-Hara}). When the life is impossible to continue and women can not tolerate anymore, she has the right to ask for ...
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The aim of the present article is to report the findings of a study on the condition of divorce that is Osre-o-Hara}. Woman can request divorce for the hardships in her married life (Osre-o-Hara}). When the life is impossible to continue and women can not tolerate anymore, she has the right to ask for divorce. The article of 1130 of Civil Code emphasizes; when the hardship is proved in the court, the husband has to divorce his wife. If he resists, the judge can divorce her. Considering the importance of Osr-o¬Hara}, few questions should be raised:
1. What is the status of Osre-o-Hara} in the Iranian legal system? What are the conditions for its implementation? In what circumstances women can file a request for divorce?
2. What types of problems and deficiencies are raised due to the generality of the concept? Is it a good solution to the problem? Is it able to provide judicial security in the family relations?
The available information demonstrates women's difficulties in proving hardship. Also Judges issue different verdicts based on their interpretation of the concept.
Volume 1, Issue 5 , April 2003
Abstract
The impacts of wife abuse in societies and their negative influences of mothers and children have been presented in many researches. One of the general characteristics of wife abuse is its hidden nature; in such a way that most Iranian women tolerate their being abused. Thus, there is no notable research ...
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The impacts of wife abuse in societies and their negative influences of mothers and children have been presented in many researches. One of the general characteristics of wife abuse is its hidden nature; in such a way that most Iranian women tolerate their being abused. Thus, there is no notable research in the country on this issue. In order to review the prevalence of wife abuse and it’s affecting factors among the married couples of the city of Tehran, Moffitt et al (1996) Questionnaire has been applied. Findings of their research reports 81.71 percent of prevalence of wife abuse. The report identifies that there is a significant relationship between the variables of age, education, occupation and family level of income of wives abused. Also, with the length of marriage, the rate of wife abuse did not decline. That is, social tolerance not only has helped continuation of domestic violence, rather it enhances it
Volume 1, Issue 5 , April 2003
Abstract
The changes in age and sex structure of population as an independent and primary factor- irrespective of other influencing factors- creates imbalance in marital situation of the society. Based on population changes in recent decades in Iran, especially in the period of 1976-1986, there has been a remarkable ...
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The changes in age and sex structure of population as an independent and primary factor- irrespective of other influencing factors- creates imbalance in marital situation of the society. Based on population changes in recent decades in Iran, especially in the period of 1976-1986, there has been a remarkable change in the age and sex structure of population. These structural changes of the population in Iran had different economic, social and cultural impacts in different time periods causing many types of economic and social hindrances in the society. As a consequence, presently we have to deal with over supply of labor and as the result a high rate of unemployment .Other expected impacts in the near future will be imbalance among girls and boys in the marital age groups. This imbalance will result in the increased number of single girls. The aim of this article is to study the issue in the three decades (1956-1986) and to discuss the relationship between changes of population age and sex structure and marital situation in Iran. Also, quantitative impacts of such changes on the future decade will be presented.
Volume 1, Issue 5 , April 2003
Abstract
In traditional societies, women are under-represented in the law profession in such a way that they constitute approximately one-tenth of the total number of lawyers in Iran. Over the past few decades, due to prevailing restrictions, women’s entering into judicial positions has been restricted, decreasing ...
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In traditional societies, women are under-represented in the law profession in such a way that they constitute approximately one-tenth of the total number of lawyers in Iran. Over the past few decades, due to prevailing restrictions, women’s entering into judicial positions has been restricted, decreasing their number in this profession. This article shows that in spite of these different restrictions the number of female trainees in law has increased. Also, female lawyers have joined the board of Bar Association. Clearly women’s active presence at managerial level of the association will facilitate changing stereotyping of law profession as a masculine field, also utilizing women’s capacities in this specialized profession.
Volume 1, Issue 5 , April 2003
Abstract
Mass media through disseminating information forms the thought, mentality and culture of the society. Decision makers and writers of messages (mass media managers and producers) have an important role in cultural formation and its’ evolutions. The women’s presence in these occupational positions ...
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Mass media through disseminating information forms the thought, mentality and culture of the society. Decision makers and writers of messages (mass media managers and producers) have an important role in cultural formation and its’ evolutions. The women’s presence in these occupational positions is studied in the Iranian radio and television. The findings indicate that women are involved in the majority of production activities. However, the intensity and rate of their presence differs from one sector to the other.
Analysis of women’s participation in Media and quality of their participation, as well as factors affecting on their occupational efficiency are discussed in this article. The rate of women’s participation as producers of radio and television programs indicates their capacities in occupations which are rarely considered as feminine type.
Volume 2, Issue 1 , March 2003
Abstract
: Considering the status of women's employment in Iran and given their untapped potential as a labor force, facilitating their access to the labor market, can pave the way for increased social benefits. Therefore identifying the factors that promote greater participation of women in the economic and ...
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: Considering the status of women's employment in Iran and given their untapped potential as a labor force, facilitating their access to the labor market, can pave the way for increased social benefits. Therefore identifying the factors that promote greater participation of women in the economic and social sectors is of the utmost importance. Perhaps the most effective factor in promoting women's labor force participation is their level of education. Educated women demonstrate a greater willingness to put their skills to use in the labor market. Attracting educated and skilled women to the labor market requires greater investment. In an effort to identifying the impact of each of the variables in attracting educated women to the labor market, this study utilizes a econometric model. Variables in this analysis include women's share in the employed labor force, the birthrate, share of girls registered in middle school, gross domestic product per capita, the share of employed women in the labor force with higher education, and the relation of the level of investment to the level of gross domestic product. The results for the period 1345-1380 (1966-2001) using the OLS methodology, demonstrates that increase in education levels increase women's opportunities in employment. Also the increase in the gross domestic product and in the amount of investment increase women's share in the labor force.
Volume 2, Issue 1 , March 2003
Abstract
In the past two decades, the expansion of ethnic identity move¬ments has increased the number of studies examining the social, cultural, and political dynamics of ethnicity. A review of the studies demonstrates that the gender aspect of ethnicity has been largely over-looked and tended to consider gender ...
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In the past two decades, the expansion of ethnic identity move¬ments has increased the number of studies examining the social, cultural, and political dynamics of ethnicity. A review of the studies demonstrates that the gender aspect of ethnicity has been largely over-looked and tended to consider gender as a contextual variable. This article is based on the findings of a survey in four cities of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, to examine the importance of gender attitude in the development of ethnic identity. The hypothesis is that the unequal status of the two ethnic groups (Baluch and Non-Baluch) especially in terms of access to educational opportunities, has resulted in two different attitudes with respect to gender roles. Traditional and relatively modern attitudes of gender have differentiated the two ethnic groups. Additionally, it has impacted the family structure and the social
dynamics within ethnic groups. The analysis of the data attributes many of the differences between groups to differences in the level of education .Other variables, such as different religions, also affect the difference in perspectives and cultural behavior.
