Entrepreneurship
Zahra Eskandari; Rasoul Abbasi; Mohammad Reza Fallah
Abstract
In addition to contributing significantly to a country’s gross domestic product, home-based enterprises establish a connection between domestic space and economic activity. These enterprises can be especially beneficial for women, particularly female heads of households in developing countries, ...
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In addition to contributing significantly to a country’s gross domestic product, home-based enterprises establish a connection between domestic space and economic activity. These enterprises can be especially beneficial for women, particularly female heads of households in developing countries, as they provide a critical resource for empowerment and economic independence. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of female heads of households in establishing and managing home-based enterprises. The investigation implements a qualitative phenomenological approach. A total of 19 female chiefs of households in the city of Islamabad-e-Gharb were selected using a non-probabilistic and judgment-based sampling method. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method for qualitative analysis. The results suggest that participants’ experiences can be classified into three main categories: prerequisites for home-based businesses, proficiency in sales man-agement, and challenges faced by female-headed households. The results emphasize that these women and their families are afforded valuable opportunities by entering the entrepreneurial sector; however, they are also confronted with a variety of obstacles. This emphasizes the necessity of support programs and effective policy formulation that are customized to the unique requirements of this group of women. Additionally, specialized training and financial support can create a more sustainable pathway for the development of home-based businesses.
Management
Naser Shahriary; Samira Abbasi
Abstract
Sustainable urban development and the enhancement of women's health are fundamentally challenged by gender disparities in access to urban and recreation spaces. The aim of this study is to present a model for a city that is both healthful and welcoming to women. This model is designed to encourage physical ...
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Sustainable urban development and the enhancement of women's health are fundamentally challenged by gender disparities in access to urban and recreation spaces. The aim of this study is to present a model for a city that is both healthful and welcoming to women. This model is designed to encourage physical activity during urban planning interactions, thereby encouraging women to engage more actively in public spaces. Using Glaser’s grounded theory method, this research was conducted using a qualitative approach that was rooted in the interpretive-constructivist paradigm. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 15 women, experts, and urban and sports planners, who were deliberately chosen until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed using open and axial coding, and the conceptual model of the research was extracted. The results indicated that realizing a healthy and women-friendly city for physical activity requires attention to social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, religious, historical, and technological dimensions. Key factors identified include accessibility to sports facilities, safety, appropriate urban infrastructure design, and social and cultural support. The outcomes of these factors include enhanced individual identity, strengthened social interactions, improved physical and mental health, and a better urban quality of life, as a result of the increased participation of women in physical activities. Comprehensive urban planning focused on gender justice, safety, and accessibility can enhance women's participation in physical activities and serve as an effective step toward sustainable urban development.
Rural Development
Hadiseh Bagheri; Mohammad Kavoosi-Kalashami; Mohammad Karim Motamed
Abstract
The empowerment of rural women and the enhancement of their participation in the development of rural areas are among the most critical concerns for women in developing countries. The adoption of pertinent policies and the development processes can be significantly influenced by the identification of ...
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The empowerment of rural women and the enhancement of their participation in the development of rural areas are among the most critical concerns for women in developing countries. The adoption of pertinent policies and the development processes can be significantly influenced by the identification of the factors and drivers that affect women's empowerment in rural development contexts, as well as the attention paid to the role of women and gender discourse. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of revitalizing handicrafts on the empowerment of rural women in the villages of Alamut region of Qazvin province. This study is a quantitative research paradigm, an applied research objective, and a causal-relational one in terms of method. The statistical population of this study is all rural women active in the field of handicrafts, and the sample size was estimated to be 100 individuals using random sampling. After conducting descriptive analysis with SPSS22 and PLS3 software and employing structural equations, hypotheses were evaluated in order to analyze the research data. The empowerment of rural women in the study area is positively and significantly influenced by the revival of handicrafts in the psychological (β=0.812), social (β=0.682), and economic (β=0.321) dimensions, according to the results of the structural equation modeling approach. Consequently, it is imperative to allocate adequate attention to these factors in order to enhance the empowerment of rural women in the study area and other rural regions of the country.
Sociology
Mahnaz Farahmand; Fatemeh Danafar; Feze Abolhasani; Nilofar Shojaei
Abstract
In recent years, the study of women’s lived experiences has become a fundamental issue in the fields of criminology and sociology due to the rising incarceration rate of women. The objective of this research is to comprehend the lived experiences of incarcerated women the application of a qualitative ...
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In recent years, the study of women’s lived experiences has become a fundamental issue in the fields of criminology and sociology due to the rising incarceration rate of women. The objective of this research is to comprehend the lived experiences of incarcerated women the application of a qualitative approach and grounded theory methodology. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The cohort is composed of 21 female prisoners, aged 19 to 65, who were deliberately and conveniently selected from the incarcerated women of Yazd. The data were subjected to three phases of analysis: open, axial, and selective coding. The study’s results suggest that the fundamental phenomenon is the existence within the cycle of structural deviation. This phenomenon is influenced by a delinquency-promoting subculture, emotional crises, and secondary deviance among women. Additionally, it is influenced by intervening conditions, such as repressed childhood experiences, economic and cultural marginalization, and specific contextual factors, such as capability deprivation, skill blockage, and overwhelmed emotions. These factors collectively contribute to the ongoing existence of women within the cycle of structural deviation and their involvement in criminality. The results further reveal that incarcerated women are subject to the repercussions of defensive isolation, psychological erosion, and suspended identity. Ultimately, their responses to these challenges are characterized by the reconstruction of their identity, spiritual renewal, and psychological purification.
economics
Fatemeh Karami; Mohammad Ali Asaadi; Sadegh Khalilian
Abstract
Trade Liberalization is a key factor influencing labor market structure that can transform the employment patterns of rural women. The significance of this group's involvement in rural production and livelihoods underscores the necessity of comprehending its impact on their economic participation. The ...
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Trade Liberalization is a key factor influencing labor market structure that can transform the employment patterns of rural women. The significance of this group's involvement in rural production and livelihoods underscores the necessity of comprehending its impact on their economic participation. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of trade liberalization on the economic participation rate of rural women in Iran. This study is of an analytical-applied type and was conducted using time series data from 1998 to 2021. The ARDL model was employed to analyze the data, which were collected from reputable statistical sources. The results suggest that, in the long-run, economic participation rate of rural women is positively and significantly impacted by increased trade liberalization. This is due to the fact that trade development can establish a foundation for sustainable employment by expanding export markets, increasing investment, and creating new job opportunities. The findings also indicated that the employment of women is positively influenced by the expansion of the agricultural sector, whereas their participation is adversely affected by an increase in the rural population. Furthermore, the short-term impact of Trade Liberalization was negligible, suggesting that economic and social structures must be adjusted to capitalize on trade opportunities. The results indicate that trade development can establish a foundation for the sustainable employment of rural women by expanding markets, attracting investment, and generating job opportunities. Accordingly, policymakers should prioritize the provision of supportive facilities, the enhancement of communication and financial infrastructure, and the development of occupational skills to enable rural women to participate in international markets.
Women's Studies
Bahar Atashkar; Ehsan Aqababaee; Hamidreza Shairi; Taghi Azadarmaki
Abstract
Iran experienced profound sociopolitical and cultural transformations during the 1980s, which were a significant period. This study selected 15 images from 431 images of women found on the front pages of newspapers from the 1980s, employing a qualitative methodology guided by Foucault's discourse theory ...
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Iran experienced profound sociopolitical and cultural transformations during the 1980s, which were a significant period. This study selected 15 images from 431 images of women found on the front pages of newspapers from the 1980s, employing a qualitative methodology guided by Foucault's discourse theory and drawing on the social semiotic framework of Kress and Van Leeuwen. The objective of this study was to examine the dominant discourses in the representation of women and to investigate the ways in which these images reinforced dominant ideological norms. The findings revealed that the representation of women in newspapers was not merely a reflection of dominant values; rather, it was an active process that involved the normalization of defined gender roles, the construction and consolidation of the ideal revolutionary female subject, and the management of identity tensions through the employment of specific visual mechanisms and techniques. The portrayal of women in Iranian periodicals during the 1980s served as a mechanism for the reproduction of dominant discourses, reinforcing revolutionary and Islamic values and portraying women as fervent advocates of the revolution and its core ideals. Additionally, they emphasized the supportive role of women during the Iran-Iraq War. In addition to these representations, there were depictions of women's participation in scientific and managerial disciplines, which indicate a degree of acceptance of new roles for women within the revolutionary society, albeit within the framework of Islamic values. Although the images depicted women as active participants in various domains, they restricted their roles to predefined social and cultural expectations within the Revolutionary-Islamic framework, thereby reinforcing and stabilizing these discourses.
Women's Studies
Fazilat Khodamoradi; Hossein Mirzaei
Abstract
Marriage is a complex social phenomenon that can have varying connotations depending on the context. In cultural contexts where early marriage is prevalent, there are few studies that have investigated the perspectives and attitudes of women regarding the diverse aspects of marriage. Consequently, the ...
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Marriage is a complex social phenomenon that can have varying connotations depending on the context. In cultural contexts where early marriage is prevalent, there are few studies that have investigated the perspectives and attitudes of women regarding the diverse aspects of marriage. Consequently, the current investigation employs a phenomenological approach to conduct a comprehensive analysis and to investigate the various layers of the lived experiences of females under the age of 18 in the context of marital life. To comprehend the broader context of their lives in relation to their early marriage experiences. By employing “purposeful sampling,” the following criteria were established for participant inclusion: residing in Saqqez, being of Kurdish ethnicity, and being under 18 years of age having encountered early marriage. Accordingly, eleven females under the age of 18 who had experienced early marriage were chosen for interviews. The participants’ average age was 17, and they had married at an average age of only 16. The researcher transcribed the interviews after they were recorded and analyzed them using Moustakas' phenomenological analysis method. The primary themes that emerged from the data analysis are as follows: illustrations, entry scenarios, considerations and gender/sexual roles, reactions of those in their vicinity, and the obstacles associated with early marriage. These themes were analyzed and interpreted on three distinct levels: textual, structural, and composite. The researcher initially provided a textual description of the participants’ experiences, utilizing meaningful phrases and themes. These phrases and themes were also employed to compose a descriptive account of the context or background that influences the participants’ experiences of the phenomenon (structural description). The researcher concluded by offering a composite description.
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