Entrepreneurship
Zahra Eskandari; Rasoul Abbasi; Mohammad Reza Fallah
Abstract
IntroductionHome-based businesses not only play a significant role in a country’s gross domestic product but also create a link between domestic space and economic activity. These businesses can be particularly important for women, especially female heads of households in developing countries, ...
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IntroductionHome-based businesses not only play a significant role in a country’s gross domestic product but also create a link between domestic space and economic activity. These businesses can be particularly important for women, especially female heads of households in developing countries, as they serve as a crucial tool for empowerment and economic independence. Female-headed households, due to specific circumstances such as the loss of a spouse, cultural biases, and financial difficulties, have turned to home-based businesses. These businesses can serve as a tool for empowering these women and reducing the poverty of vulnerable households. Women in home-based businesses, especially those who are heads of households, face numerous limitations and challenges. Investigating their experiences in entering the entrepreneurial domain and starting a home-based business can provide valuable guidelines for government officials in smoothing the path and supporting entrepreneurship for this particular group of women. Previous research has addressed the issue of female-headed households and their limitations; however, the lived experiences of female heads of households in starting a home-based business have not been explored. Therefore, given the lack of prior research on the experiences of entrepreneurial female heads of households, this study aims to examine the lived experiences of female heads of households in establishing and managing home-based businesses in Iran.MethodologyThis research employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of female-headed households in establishing and developing home-based businesses. The primary aim was to identify these women's experiences in order to provide valuable information for policymakers and legislators. In this study, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with entrepreneurial women who have been running home-based businesses for at least three years. Purposeful sampling was used, and data collection continued until data saturation was reached. The interview questions focused on social, cultural, and gender-related barriers to starting a business, resource acquisition, and challenges in product sales. Data analysis was conducted using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method. Initially, the data was analyzed through coding and the extraction of key concepts. Then, the meanings were organized into categories to identify core concepts. The reliability of the analysis was assessed through inter-coder reliability, with a 92% agreement rate between two coders. Moreover, the validity of the results was confirmed through participant feedback. Overall, this research addresses the challenges and factors influencing the success of home-based businesses run by female-headed households and provides an appropriate tool for better understanding this phenomenon.FindingsThe findings indicate that participants’ experiences can be classified into three main categories: prerequisites for home-based businesses, proficiency in sales management, and challenges faced by female-headed households. A. Prerequisites for home-based businessesFemale heads of households cited several reasons for choosing home-based businesses, including spousal loss, financial responsibilities, and cultural restrictions discouraging women from working outside the home. Additional considerations such as preserving personal dignity, overcoming societal stigmas, and balancing professional and familial responsibilities also influenced their decisions. Unique circumstances such as previous legal issues, imprisonment, or limited education further motivated them toward entrepreneurship. These women acquired the necessary skills through various avenues, including family mentorship, expert training, vocational programs, and self-guided learning via online platforms. Charitable organizations and hands-on experience also contributed to their skill development. Additionally, technology adoption—such as using YouTube for education, social media for marketing, and design software for innovation—enhanced their business success.B. Proficiency in sales managementEntrepreneurial women employed diverse strategies to market and sell their products, including word-of-mouth referrals, social media advertising, and traditional print promotions. Initially, their sales were limited to acquaintances, but over time, they expanded their customer base to include strangers and institutional buyers. Many leveraged online sales platforms and participated in local events and markets to boost their visibility. Some adopted intermediary-based sales strategies or established direct contracts with institutions such as schools and production workshops, allowing them to increase market reach and achieve financial stability.C. Challenges faced by female-headed householdsDespite their determination, female heads of households face substantial individual and environmental challenges. Personal difficulties include limited knowledge of digital technologies, the lack of permanent product display spaces, and physically demanding work with low financial returns. Early-stage losses, low customer engagement, and isolation also hinder progress. Moreover, securing loans remains difficult due to the absence of guarantors and inadequate legal and marketing knowledge. At an environmental level, bureaucratic loan approval processes, competition with cheap imports, shortages of raw materials, and the lack of insurance or trade unions significantly obstruct business growth. Gender-based discrimination, including skepticism regarding women’s capabilities and demands for financial guarantees, further complicates their entrepreneurial journey. Nevertheless, these women demonstrate resilience and creativity, utilizing their resourcefulness to navigate obstacles and progress in their businesses.ConclusionHome-based businesses not only create job opportunities for female-headed households but also play a crucial role in reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for vulnerable families. This study highlights the transformative potential of such businesses in enabling women to achieve financial independence while fulfilling their familial responsibilities. Despite the positive outcomes, significant barriers persist. Gender biases and cultural prejudices remain major impediments, emphasizing the need for systemic changes in societal attitudes and structural frameworks. To ensure the growth and sustainability of home-based businesses, institutional and governmental support is imperative. This includes providing low-interest or collateral-free loans, offering vocational training, and establishing robust support systems such as unions and insurance schemes. Policy measures should also focus on addressing cultural norms and creating awareness to foster an inclusive environment that empowers women. Furthermore, practical steps such as organizing regular markets, enabling access to technology, and providing financial incentives are essential to help these entrepreneurs thrive. In conclusion, home-based businesses represent a viable solution for alleviating poverty, promoting economic empowerment, and challenging traditional gender roles in society. Strategic planning and targeted policy interventions can not only improve the living conditions of female-headed households but also contribute to the broader goals of sustainable economic and social development. This study offers valuable insights and a foundation for future research on the role of social capital, technology, and institutional support in enhancing the outcomes of home-based businesses. To address the limitations of this study, it is recommended that future research include broader and more diverse samples from various cultural backgrounds. Additionally, to enhance the reliability of the data, it is suggested that the findings of this study be tested quantitatively on a larger statistical population.
Women's Studies
Sahar Tabrizi; Golamreza Tabrizikahou; Maliheh Boroumand Mahmoudabadi
Abstract
As the percentage of women assuming the role of household leaders rises, there is a prevailing consensus to lend them support. Determining their experience of social support phenomenologically is the objective of the present study. The investigation utilized the phenomenological method. In 1400, twenty-one ...
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As the percentage of women assuming the role of household leaders rises, there is a prevailing consensus to lend them support. Determining their experience of social support phenomenologically is the objective of the present study. The investigation utilized the phenomenological method. In 1400, twenty-one female heads of household in Mashhad participated in semi-structured interviews; the resulting data were subsequently analyzed using MAXQDA software. Three entities provide assistance to female heads of household: family, friends, and governmental organizations. Often, family support is both financial and emotional. Companionship and friends offer practical, financial, and emotional assistance, while governmental bodies and organizations prioritize monetary support. However, these assistance programs—consisting primarily of low-interest loans—will contribute to the perpetuation of poverty if not accompanied by policies that target and alleviate poverty. Widows initially require emotional support before progressing to requiring financial, material, and informational resources. Following financial support, divorced women require emotional support. Financial, informational, instrumental, and emotional autonomy are all essential for single women. Because mistrust, particularly towards men, constitutes the foundation of each of these women's living space, conformity and aloofness serve as the primary tenets of their social connections. The findings revealed that female heads of household encounter numerous obstacles in their personal and social spheres, necessitating assistance. Nevertheless, policymakers must be concerned with the manner in which these supports are delivered in order to prevent it from becoming a "social issue" and to mitigate social harm.
Qadir Siaami; Maliheh Sattarivand
Abstract
Today, the increase of female-headed households, especially in informal settlements, is considered as a social harm, and in order to solve it, the empowerment approach in the economic field has attracted a lot of attention. Therefore, in order to solve economic problems and job creation in informal settlements, ...
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Today, the increase of female-headed households, especially in informal settlements, is considered as a social harm, and in order to solve it, the empowerment approach in the economic field has attracted a lot of attention. Therefore, in order to solve economic problems and job creation in informal settlements, the entrepreneurial approach was proposed based on local capitals and potentials. Because using this approach can be very effective in organizing economic and employment conditions and promoting income generation in informal settlements and areas. The purpose of this study is to evaluation of empowerment strategies women heads of households in Arvand and Ansar neighborhoods of Shahid Rajaei town of Mashhad with emphasis on entrepreneurship in informal settlements. These neighborhoods are located in the third erea of the sixth district of Mashhad and the number of women heads of households in these neighborhoods reaches more than 2560 people. The method of the present research is a descriptive-analytical method which is done with a measurement and evaluation approach. Library and field methods and questionnaires have been used to collect information. Also, the analysis was performed based on the method of strategic analysis and using the tools of GIS and SPSS software. The results of this study indicate that factors such as expansion of women's business workshops (with a score of 6.65) in the field of economic dynamism, promoting neighborhood social cohesion (6.48) and creating women's social networks (6.11) in the field of social capital, attracting investment and providing facilities (6.29) and supporting the self-employment of women heads of households (6.17) in the field of urban management transformation; are effective in improving the economic and entrepreneurial status and empowerment of women heads of households in informal settlements.
Shayesteh Karamkhani; alieh shekarbeigi; Ehsan Rahmani
Abstract
Natural disasters do not affect on an involved population equally. female-headed households are one of the most vulnerable social groups in critical situations. The way women deal with critical situations is highly related to cultural backgrounds, power mechanisms and gender-related issues.On the other ...
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Natural disasters do not affect on an involved population equally. female-headed households are one of the most vulnerable social groups in critical situations. The way women deal with critical situations is highly related to cultural backgrounds, power mechanisms and gender-related issues.On the other hand, women's "agency" is also important in this encounter. The present article describes the lived experience of female-headed households from earthquakes with the aim of providing a theoretical model of the "women's empowerment process in crisis". This research is of qualitative type with "Granded Theory" method and interpretive-constructivist paradigm. Field data were collected by theoretical sampling and in-depth interviews with 15 women heads of households in eight earthquake-stricken areas of Kermanshah, including Salas Babajani, Sarpol-e-Zahab and etc.,up to theoretical saturation. Finally, the data were coded and analyzed with 363 concepts, 20 major categories and the core category of "intensification of disabled social foundations". The phenomenon of "Ability poverty and the threat of opportunities" caused by the value systems and repressive ideologies that govern women, the weakness of crisis management, the region deprivation and lack of knowledge that led to strategies of resilience and active action, compromise and so on .Helplessness , the challenge of power, the threat and insecurity, the feeling of abandonment, the physical and psychological damage, and the challenge of children are the consequences of the phenomenon.(The paradigmatic model of theory is presented) The results show that the process of "empowering"of female-headed households in disasters depends on conditions such as opportunities to be accessible through supportive structures, and barriers and deterrents are not so threatening and powerful as to prevent opportunities and lead to deprivation. Women should also consider themselves "agency".
Masomeh Jamshidi; Hossein Mahdizabeh
Abstract
The traditional strategy of economic empowerment of female heads of households in the form of microfinance and credit granting has positive and negative effects and consequences. The present study employed a structural analysis method to study the opinions of the experts. The main purpose of this paper ...
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The traditional strategy of economic empowerment of female heads of households in the form of microfinance and credit granting has positive and negative effects and consequences. The present study employed a structural analysis method to study the opinions of the experts. The main purpose of this paper is to identify the positive and negative consequences of the empowerment strategy in the regional (provincial) scale to analyze their influence and dependence. In order to collect information, deep interviewing method was initially used with 28 knowledgeable experts in the field of empowerment of women in different institutions of the province. The qualitative dta were collected through a researcher-made cross-sectional analysis matrix. Triangulation method and documentary and library information, direct observation and deep interviewing were used to ensure the reliability of qualitative data. After the first and second phases, the experts are provided with the designed questionnaires to examine the relationship between the variables in the cross-sectional matrix and the interrelationship between them. Micmac software has been used to analyze the data. The results showed that in the future, the most important positive indicators for the system analysis of the consequences of the traditional strategy of empowerment of female headed households were "job creation", "access to resources", "increase in production" and "entrepreneurship". The negative consequences include the variables of "waste of financial resources due to misuse of loans and microfinance", "major attention (and merely) of institutions to pay loans" and "increased false consumerism". According to the results, the conventional economic empowerment program for female-headed households in the future should be managed and organized in a way that has minimal negative impact and maximum positive effects. Therefore, the aforementioned empowerment system should reinforce and maximize the positive impacts and minimize the negative impacts.
Welfare and Planning
Reza Zare; Mohammad Safari Dashtaki
Abstract
It is generally accepted that women and girls are more vulnerable to the exploitation, poverty, violence and malnutrition than men. They have less opportunity for education and training. Social entrepreneurship gives women the opportunity to control their own destinies. It allows women enjoy greater ...
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It is generally accepted that women and girls are more vulnerable to the exploitation, poverty, violence and malnutrition than men. They have less opportunity for education and training. Social entrepreneurship gives women the opportunity to control their own destinies. It allows women enjoy greater independency, empowerment and social participation than the traditional and state-owned investments. The present study aimed to provide a social entrepreneurship model with an approach to empowerment of female household heads in the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and identification and explanation of effective factors in the formation of this process and its consequences through applying a qualitative research method and the Grounded Theory (GT) strategy. In this regard, interviews were conducted with eighteen university experts and family workers from Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Fars province as the statistical sample using a semi-structured theoretical and purposive method. The interview results were analyzed in three stages namely the open, axial and selective coding. According to obtained results, empowering policies create the social entrepreneurship and the phenomenon orientation in the interaction with other factors. Relationships of these factors are shown in the final model of research. Capacity-building, physical-psychological boosting and supportive laws have significant effects on the creation of empowering policies. This attitude ultimately becomes a basis for the emergence of social entrepreneurship phenomenon.
Sociology
Saeed Khani; Farsheed Khezri; Katayoon Yari
Abstract
The number of female-headed households has increased with extensive growth rate in recent decades. This group in line with the population growth rate, has experienced another qualitative changes such as age composition and education, income distribution and economic poverty changing issues relating to ...
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The number of female-headed households has increased with extensive growth rate in recent decades. This group in line with the population growth rate, has experienced another qualitative changes such as age composition and education, income distribution and economic poverty changing issues relating to them as a relatively normal social condition to a social problem associated with damage over time. The current article aims to study and analyze social vulnerability among female-headed households and their children in comparison with married women. The theoretical framework of the problem is derived from strain, social attachments and feminization of poverty theories. This study is a quasi-experimental research based on survey technique. The investigation consists of two statistical populations. First, it consists of female-headed households who have been active in Setayesh-e-Mehr's Social Work Clinic in Soltan-Abad district-Tehran since 2015. The sampling method in the first population was enumeration. The second statistical population consisted of male-headed households in the same area selected with multi-stage cluster sampling to be compared with the first group. The result showed that there is a significant difference among female-headed households and male-headed households regarding social isolation, tendency to addiction, children's delinquency and economic poverty. This evidence in conjunction with the theoretical framework, shows the position of female-headed households in the socio-economic structure of society. Poverty and lack of social bound, and as a result, their experience of strain and lack of appropriate support, in both formal and informal forms, make these women and their children vulnerable to harm.
Sociology
Mansureh Azam Azadeh; Maryam Tafteh
Abstract
This research is aimed at measuring the happiness of the women who conduct a family in Tehran and identifying the causes and background of such happiness and also the causes of ostracism and the ways it affects their happiness. This is an explorative survey. For this purpose, 30 women were selected ...
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This research is aimed at measuring the happiness of the women who conduct a family in Tehran and identifying the causes and background of such happiness and also the causes of ostracism and the ways it affects their happiness. This is an explorative survey. For this purpose, 30 women were selected through snowball sampling and the data was collected through interview and then a survey was conducted with the population of 180. The interviews demonstrated that: factors such as deprivation from basic needs and SENSE OF DISCRIMINATION have excluded these women from the society and that is why they feel being discriminated and less happy. . Based on regression equation, about 70 percent of the changes in terms of happiness of the female heads in Tehran is because of lack of fairness, social ostracism and SENSE OF DISCRIMINATION and also lack of effective provision of basic needs which faint away their happiness. Based on path analysis equation, social ostracism is the strongest factor, which negatively affects their happiness directly and indirectly. Lack of fairness comes next in terms of direct effects. Sense of discrimination and effective provision of the basic needs are other factors that affect their happiness respectively.
Sociology
Amir Rastgar Khaled; Hajer Azimi
Abstract
Female- headed house holds as one of social harmful groups in front of various problems in life among exist conflict at family. The work roles cause doual roles which are important problem for wemen. In this research, effort to use from grounded theory method and done deep interview to 25 person from ...
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Female- headed house holds as one of social harmful groups in front of various problems in life among exist conflict at family. The work roles cause doual roles which are important problem for wemen. In this research, effort to use from grounded theory method and done deep interview to 25 person from female- headed house holds refer to main problem of this women. Results data analysis and paradaim model express that force to play bread- winner role provides condition such as work alienation and sexual harassment in workplace. This condition has very heigh conflict and basis problem like family role overloaded and work role overloaded. The guideline female- headed house holds in this state is establishment balance among family and work roles to cause family nonsupport and work nonsupport to front interpol conflict.
Sociology of feeding
Heshmatollah Saadi; Hajar Vahdat Moaddab
Abstract
Female heads of households are responsible for the material and spiritual needs of the families because of a deceased, missing, separated, divorced, addicted, disabled (permanent or temporary), imprisonment, ill or military deployed male head of households. Survey research was employed in the study. ...
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Female heads of households are responsible for the material and spiritual needs of the families because of a deceased, missing, separated, divorced, addicted, disabled (permanent or temporary), imprisonment, ill or military deployed male head of households. Survey research was employed in the study. The target population includes rural women heads of households Razan city. Following Cochran’s formula, a sample of 92 participants was randomly selected. After an extensive literature review, a standardized questionnaire for measure of household food insecurity was used. The questionnaire reliability which is estimated by Cronbach’s Alpha was 89.5.Findings of research indicated that food security for 25 percent of women in over and 75 percent of them are different degrees of food insecurity. So food security have significant relationship with factors such as education, the number of children under 18 years old, supervisory status, and home ownership.
Seyed Ahmad Firouzabadi; Alireza Sadeghi
Volume 8, Issue 2 , July 2010
Volume 5, Issue 1 , September 2007
Abstract
The ongoing women's poverty and gender discrimination, owing to various cultural and historical constraints on their socio-economic status and advancement, has raised different approaches in the literature, namely women's empowerment. Within a conceptual framework of poverty and empowerment this paper ...
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The ongoing women's poverty and gender discrimination, owing to various cultural and historical constraints on their socio-economic status and advancement, has raised different approaches in the literature, namely women's empowerment. Within a conceptual framework of poverty and empowerment this paper intends to probe into different facets of the empowerment of women-headed households, as one of the most important groups subjected highly to poverty risk, in the city of Tehran.
The study reveals that women's individual features (characteristics) have a significant effect on their poverty. In addition, women's poverty has multiple dimensions: economic, social and psychological, so, they should be taken into account in any gender and poverty analysis. According to the findings, in spite of some measures and efforts by different poverty-alleviating organizations in the framework of assistance schemes or projects, yet women's empowerment needs a long way to be realized. The reason for this, the paper argues, lies in characteristics of the approach(es) dominating these efforts, their low level quantity as well as women's poor capability. The paper concludes that in order to eliminate or alleviate women's poverty and gender inequality, and change women's socio-economic status, a structural development is necessary.
Volume 1, Issue 5 , April 2003
Abstract
Development is the ultimate goal that any country attempts to achieve. The basic values of sustainable development lie on enhancing people’s quality of life leading to women’s and men’s empowerment. One of the ways that influences development of men and women is women’s equal access, equality ...
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Development is the ultimate goal that any country attempts to achieve. The basic values of sustainable development lie on enhancing people’s quality of life leading to women’s and men’s empowerment. One of the ways that influences development of men and women is women’s equal access, equality of opportunity as compared to men, attaining economic security and alleviation of their poverty. These issues are more tangible in the case of female-headed households. This article presents the findings of a survey research on the opportunities and challenges encountered by female-headed households. 4280 samples were taken in a field research of women heads of households in five provinces of Iran. A review of the development, poverty, gender empowerment measures has to take place. The information gathered indicates severe poverty among women. The reviews of development and poverty indicators as well as women’s empowerment measures for women heads of households is very high and approximately equivalent to 0.527, in comparison to the same indicator for the whole country being equivalent to 0.193. Female-headed households constitute 8.4 percent of the total households in Iran. The main reasons of their responsibility as heads of households are disability of men to work (42% of cases) and death of spouse (36%).
Volume 2, Issue 1 , March 2003
Abstract
New poverty paradigm considers the reasons for deprivation of
female headed households: gender and lack of access to resources. This paradigm conveys the urgency and need for raising the question of "whether female headed households are the poorest of the poor?" The goal of this paper is to examine ...
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New poverty paradigm considers the reasons for deprivation of
female headed households: gender and lack of access to resources. This paradigm conveys the urgency and need for raising the question of "whether female headed households are the poorest of the poor?" The goal of this paper is to examine whether this generalization holds true in the case of Iran. Available national macro statistics on an absolute poverty and relative poverty in the period of 1370-1380 (1991-2001) have been analyzed and examined for the purpose of this research. The main findings indicate that women are at increased risk of poverty and that the poverty rate of female headed households is higher than the poverty rate of male headed households, but the gap between the two groups has diminished. While the poverty rate of female headed households in urban areas has decreased, uneducated and low literate female headed households remain at high risk of poverty. Also, the study indicates that as the number of income earners in these families increase, the likelihood of poverty in the poorest segments of this population decreases. Female headed households of Iran, because oflow education levels, small families and fewer numbers of income earners within the family can be classified as the poorest groups living in poverty.
