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
Fazilat Khodamoradi; Hossein mirzaei
Abstract
Although marriage is clearly defined from a legal perspective, in reality, it is not a simple social phenomenon. Marriage holds different meanings across various cultures and is not limited to a relationship between two individuals; rather, it encompasses the union of two families and broader social ...
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Although marriage is clearly defined from a legal perspective, in reality, it is not a simple social phenomenon. Marriage holds different meanings across various cultures and is not limited to a relationship between two individuals; rather, it encompasses the union of two families and broader social networks. Early marriage is one of the significant topics in social studies, examining the cultural, economic, and psychological consequences of such unions. From a social studies perspective, early marriage (marriage before the legal or customary age of a society) can play a crucial role in shaping social structures, women's rights, and the cultural development of communities.Despite the studies conducted on early marriage, there is limited information available on how girls who have experienced or are close to marriage perceive and experience it. Few studies have explored women's perspectives and attitudes toward various aspects of marriage in cultural contexts where early marriage is common. Therefore, it is essential to address the social and cultural dimensions of early marriage, with an emphasis on the lived experiences of girls who have been child brides and have not yet completed their childhood. In this regard, the present research delves deeply and meticulously into the layered experiences of children who have entered marital life while still under the age of 18. This study adopts a phenomenological approach to conduct an in-depth and meticulous analysis, examining the various layers of the lived experiences of children under 18 in marital lifeand and The researcher aims to understand the experiences of girls in early marriage, their perceptions of gender roles, and the outcomes of this decision within the broader context of their lives. Through "purposeful sampling," criteria for participant inclusion were established: having experienced early marriage, residing in Saqqez, being of Kurdish ethnicity, and being under 18 years of age. Accordingly, eleven girls under 18 with early marriage experiences were selected for interviews. The average age of participants was 17, and they had married at an average age of 16. Most of these individuals, except for two cases, rated their economic situation as poor. They were all homemakers and had not completed their high school education after marriage. The data collection strategy in this study focuses on the use of in-depth interviews and individual interview techniques. After each interview, conducted in Kurdish, was recorded, the resulting data was transcribed by the researcher and translated into Persian. After recording, the interviews were transcribed by the researcher and analyzed using Moustakas' phenomenological analysis method. The main themes derived from the data analysis include: general perceptions, entry scenarios, considerations and gender/sexual roles, reactions of those around them, and the challenges of early marriage. These themes were interpreted and analyzed at three levels: textual, structural, and composite. The researcher first described the participants' experiences using meaningful phrases and themes (textual description). These phrases and themes were also used to write a descriptive account of the context or background that influences how the phenomenon is experienced by the participants (structural description). Finally, the researcher provided a composite description.During the interviews with child brides, three scenarios emerged: "Mam and Zain, Consent and Love," "The Dreamland, Understanding Marriage and Parental Roles," and "Context, Culture, and Family Beliefs." These scenarios were identified as factors leading to the entry of young girls into early marriage. Gender considerations and roles encompass two sub-themes: "The Role of Spouse, Perception of Motherhood, Responsibilities, and Expectations" and "Confronting Gender Roles (Commercial Gaze or Self-Suspension)." The third theme derived from the narratives of the child brides pertains to the perceptions and understandings they had of themselves as an objective entity and how others viewed them. For these individuals, who were not prepared to assume gender and sexual roles, marriage is considered a critical stage that requires the support of those around them to find an opportunity for self-recovery and to navigate this transition with minimal emotional, psychological, and relational stress. The reactions of those around them encompass two sub-themes: supportive behavior and interventionist behavior. The final theme highlighted by the child brides in their narratives was the challenges they faced upon entering early marriage. These challenges spanned all aspects of the girls' lives—social, economic, physical, psychological, and sexual—and included unfulfilled dreams, multiple forms of violence, sexual challenges from lack of awareness to disillusionment, child motherhood, economic hardship, lack of private space, control issues, psychological crises, inability to break away from previous relationships, and child widowhood. Ultimately, child marriage is shaped not by isolated factors but by the simultaneous interplay of ethnicity, gender, class, and the system of sexuality. Such intersections profoundly influence their unpleasant and difficult experiences as child brides. Therefore, based on all the narratives provided, they are children who lack the skills and ability to cope with their new lives and feel utterly helpless. Even if they are given the opportunity to rebuild themselves in the future, they will often become troubled and distressed women and mothers. Child marriage poses a threat to the well-being of children and has devastating consequences for a girl's life, imposing significant costs on society. Therefore, it is essential to address the factors that impact girls' lives and compel them to marry at a young age by providing them with opportunities for informed choices and enabling them to thrive in a safe and violence-free environment. Additionally, emotional and psychological support resources should be made available to children and their families, and efforts should be made to diminish cultural and gender norms that perpetuate inequality and strip women of their agency. Poverty reduction programs should be accompanied by simultaneous shifts in girls' aspirations and values, and educational policies should be adopted to encourage girls to stay in school and pursue their studies. This will help girls recognize and achieve their dreams and potential. Government programs, policies, and laws must also be reviewed and effectively implemented, ensuring support not only for those at risk but also for those who have already married at a young age and been deprived of education due to marriage. These individuals should be empowered across psychological, emotional, and social dimensions.
Sociology
Osman Hedayat
Abstract
The current research aims to phenomenologically understand how the girls living in border lines face life after graduation. It uses girls' experiences as a basis for the situation analysis of graduates in border regions to analyze the multiple determinants of their marginal, gender, and educational status. ...
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The current research aims to phenomenologically understand how the girls living in border lines face life after graduation. It uses girls' experiences as a basis for the situation analysis of graduates in border regions to analyze the multiple determinants of their marginal, gender, and educational status. Becuse of their inferior status, which can be due to gender discrimination, or/and their being border residents, or/and being an ethnic and religious minority, they have considered graduation as the only way out of the multiple intersections of inequality they face in life. The current research has discussed this subject with the graduating border-living girls to discover whether higher education has led them to improve their status. Therefore, the lived experience of female graduates of public universities has been studied in four dimensions: lived body, lived time, lived space, and lived human relationships after graduation. It attempts to restore the voice and position of girls as subordinates in graduation status in a borderline, gender, and educational situation. For this, Max Van Manen's hermeneutic and methodological approach has been applied to interpret and analyze the experiences of 30 female graduates in various fields of public universities in rural and urban border areas of Marivan, Sarovabad, and Baneh. Considering that the narratives of university the border-living graduated girls are studies, a hermeneutic theoretical basis is adopted and mega-narratives, on the one hand, and rejecting pre-existing assumptions, are avoided. In this research, hermeneutic phenomenology (interpretation) with emphasis on Max Van Manen's perspective and technique is applied to acquire the lived experiences of female graduates. According to van Manen, harmonic phenomenology provides a systematic approach to studying and interpreting a phenomenon, and it also allows the phenomenon to be analyzed and discovered with an interpretative point of view so that the researcher can gain a deeper understanding during the interpretation process. The results showed that the interviewees' understanding of their bodies is indicative of a worn-out body, caused by the entry into higher education and the borderline situation. Girls experience time in the forms of stress and social suffering, and they perceive border space after graduation as an unsafe and unstable space. Themes indicate the idea of discerning time as understanding the suffering of exclusion and marginalization from development and politics. The subject-border situation has created an environment for female graduates that is insecure and unstable. A space born from the frontier position, the position of femininity, the position of graduation. This space has influenced and shaped both the body and time. The chain of dimensions was completed with the description and analysis of human relations lived in the border situation. In such a way that they put human relationships after graduation in a borderline position with contradictory relationships. Relationships that were formed by disconnecting from the previous position and entering the university, and then returning to the borderline position due to rejection in the work and job process, lack of re-creation of a better position and position. They also interpret human relationships in the form of contradictory relationships, which indicate a break from the relationships before and after the graduates, relationships that are unstable and experienced as interruptions. Therefore, although they have not been able to change their position by graduating, they have found a deep understanding of it, which indicates questioning the role of higher education in the change of women in border areas. The discussion of marginalized subjects due to being in a borderline position and being a woman has been this research's theoretical, experimental, and methodological position. The discussion of the life world of female graduates living in the border areas of Kurdistan province, who are in multiple intersections of subjugation, brings us to the multidimensionality and multifacetedness of their views, critiques, and situational pluralism. Discovering the multi-layered nature of their subordinate position - the layer of location (bordering), time position (graduate in the current state of the higher education system), ethnic position (being Kurdish), religious position (being Sunni), and more importantly, gender position (female) Being a girl) is one of the results of this research.
Sociology
mahmoud mohammadi
Abstract
Increasing the level of education of women and girls, increasing the level of employment and economic activities, as well as the presence in the virtual space and membership in social networks, has led to women's rethinking of gender roles. This change in attitude and feeling has led to their more active ...
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Increasing the level of education of women and girls, increasing the level of employment and economic activities, as well as the presence in the virtual space and membership in social networks, has led to women's rethinking of gender roles. This change in attitude and feeling has led to their more active presence in the public sphere. They want to gain more power than in the past and play a more important role in redefining and rebuilding society. This tendency of girls to be present in public spaces and activism in social, educational, economic, and political fields is a sign of changes in girls' perception of the role of femininity and girlhood in society. The purpose of this article is to represent the lived experiences and perceptions of Farhangian University female students about girlhood. In this way, this article answers this question: How are lived experiences of female students of Farhangian University about girlhood?This research is qualitative and describes and analyzes students' lived experiences of girlhood. The phenomenological approach is a suitable method for investigating people's lived experiences. The sample of research in this article is female students of Alborz Farhangian University. Based on this, the lived experiences of 22 students were collected. The age of the participants was between 20 and 23 years and all the students were female. The data collection method is a semi-structured interview. Students answered three general questions.1- How do you describe being a girl?2- What issues and problems have you faced due to being a girl?3- How do you feel and understand the general perception (society, family, acquaintances, etc.) of girlhood?After collecting the interviews, data analysis began. The data analysis method is thematic analysis. Narratives of the investigated samples of girlhood were categorized into 3 main themes: characteristics of girlhood, problems of girlhood, and agency of girlhood.1- Characteristics of girlhood: Most of the examined samples highlighted the emotional characteristics and emotional behaviors of girls and emphasized the importance of feelings and emotions in the lives of girls. The studied samples have expressed the feeling of security and peace and the need for affection and attention as the basic needs of girls. Also, the investigated samples listed girls as having emotional characteristics such as patience, sadness, and kindness.2- Problems of girlhood: The studied samples have expressed the problems of girls in society in three categories: restriction and deprivation, injustice and discrimination, and social misconceptions towards girls. The feeling of restriction and deprivation in the family, social, cultural, and economic spheres for girls is one of the most important problems that the majority of students have mentioned in their experiences. They have stated that they have faced family, social, cultural, and economic deprivations and restrictions in their everyday experiences. Also, the feeling of injustice and discrimination has been repeated in most of the examined samples. Almost all the examined samples have implicitly and openly pointed out that they have faced injustice and discrimination in social life. Also, the investigated samples were dissatisfied with some social misconceptions that are common about girls and protested against them. They have stated in their experiences that many people in society see girls and women as the second sex that needs care and control. Also, they think that women and girls are weak and incomplete so they are dependent on men and they cannot manage their lives without men. These social perceptions towards women and girls strongly cause deprivation and restrictions for girls and provide the necessary grounds and justifications for injustice and discrimination against girls.3- the agency of girlhood: Examining the lived experiences of student girls shows that they are dissatisfied with some common misconceptions about girls and are looking for active agency and activism in the public and social sphere. The studied students were strongly seeking to change and correct social misconceptions about girls by intervening in society and showing their capabilities and talents.Half of society is made up of women and girls. One of the methods that help to understand and recognize women's society is to examine the perceptions of femininity and girlhood in the society of women and girls. The results of this research show that girls' perceptions about the roles of femininity and girlhood in society have changed. This change in perception of girlhood has led to their tendency to be more present in public spaces and they want to be active in institutions and areas that determine their social fate in society.
Rahman Bagheri; daruish rezapour; esfandiar ghafarinasab
Abstract
Suicide is one of the social injuries in various societies, which is done in a variety of ways; self-immolation is one of the most painful of these practices. The aim of this paper was to the lived experience of women survivors of self-immolation in Kohnani district of Kohdasht city, which during the ...
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Suicide is one of the social injuries in various societies, which is done in a variety of ways; self-immolation is one of the most painful of these practices. The aim of this paper was to the lived experience of women survivors of self-immolation in Kohnani district of Kohdasht city, which during the years 2004 to 2017 committed self-immolation but survived the death. In this qualitative research, researchers have used the method of interpretive phenomenology, purposive sampling and deep interviewing technique with 10 women to collect information. All interviews were recorded and immediately imprinted on paper and analyzed with an interpretive approach.Research findings indicate that the seven main categories of "Cultural Traditionalism", "Economic Challenges", "Lack of Relational skills", "Violence of husbands against women", "Unpleasant divorce", "self-expression and deliverance", and "easy access to the materials of self-immolation"; are contexts and conditions which affect the attempting self-immolation for women. The results of this study indicate the interaction of different cultural-social, economic and psychological dimensions in the process of self-immolation in rural women. Based on the findings, this study offered some suggestions.
Management
Ali Imanzadeh; Sorayeh Alipour
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to represent the experiences of the students referring to the consulting center of Tabriz University in terms of their sense of existential loneliness. The present study is conducted using a qualitative and phenomenological methodology and purposeful sampling and through ...
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The purpose of this study is to represent the experiences of the students referring to the consulting center of Tabriz University in terms of their sense of existential loneliness. The present study is conducted using a qualitative and phenomenological methodology and purposeful sampling and through deep interview with 18 students who referred to the consulting center. The interviews were recorded and analyzed by the method of Sterbent and the Carpenter. The findings of the experiences of existential loneliness of students were identified in the 4 main themes including perceived feelings, positive loneliness, negative loneliness and a way to reduce negative loneliness. The female students of Tabriz University from existential loneliness had a feeling of thrownness, anxiety and separation, which had both positive and negative consequences. The establishment approaches can explain the existential situation of students in existence and excellence about this type of sense of loneliness in the students.
Sociology
Javad Shojaei; Bahjat Yazdkhasti
Abstract
Statistics indicates that fertility is falling below the level of replacement. In parallel to this declining trend, we see an increase in the proportion of one-child families. This change in the family structure affects the quality of one-child life and, due to role limitation, the one-child socialization ...
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Statistics indicates that fertility is falling below the level of replacement. In parallel to this declining trend, we see an increase in the proportion of one-child families. This change in the family structure affects the quality of one-child life and, due to role limitation, the one-child socialization process has different conditions. Therefore, one-child as a social phenomenon must be studied precisely. The existing studies focus on quantitative explanations of the change in fertility behavior, and the meaning of these behaviors is less well-known. Also, few studies that have been performed on one-child, have "why" assumptions; it is important to identify the "Quiddity" of one-child. The current research, by adopting a phenomenological approach, describes the experience of one-child living in Tehran. The data were collected through a deep interview with twenty girls over the age of 18 years using with purposive sampling, analyzed by smith's six-step technique. Twelve themes were extracted from data analysis. The themes are: " reign in family, in regret of other positions, extreme expectations, loneliness: Just yourself and yourself, need for family support, in search of compensation, credit link, weakness in emotional relationships, destructive worries, parent's educative encounter, self-adjustment, and confrontation with stereotypes". The findings of this study could provide a clear picture of one-child lived experience. In a general conclusion, the lived experiences of subjects show that those who are the only child are usually different in terms of life skills and individual capabilities, and this difference often shows itself in extremity. It should also be noted that one-child, because of lack of conflict of interests, usually has more facilities and welfare leading to emergence of some specific themes listed above.
Volume 6, Issue 1 , May 2008
Abstract
This article tries to study female insecurity feeling in everyday life in civic spaces. Although there are different kinds of insecurity in civic spaces for people of different strata, but it seams that women experience a special kind of insecurity feeling which is common among women of different groups ...
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This article tries to study female insecurity feeling in everyday life in civic spaces. Although there are different kinds of insecurity in civic spaces for people of different strata, but it seams that women experience a special kind of insecurity feeling which is common among women of different groups and social classes. This is mostly due to their female body which is susceptible to rape and violence by men. To study this kind of female experience, 40 women residing in Tehran are interviewed and they are asked to explain how they manage their body when encountering such dangers in civic spaces.
