Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Technology Development Studies (DTDS), Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Holder, Department of Rural Development Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Law, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.

Abstract

Nowadays, economic development is unattainable without the participation of women in the workforce. Nevertheless, the economic participation rate of women in Iran is not in favorable level. Based on the most recent statistics, Yazd province has the second highest female unemployment rate. Therefore, this research aimed at analyzing the barriers to women’s economic participation in Yazd Province. In this investigation, qualitative research methods were implemented. The investigation focused on selected groups in Yazd province. Sampling was conducted purposefully and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Instruments for data collection included interviews and observations. To ensure the accuracy and dependability of the data, the researcher collected information through a variety of means, including document reviews, interviews, video and photo recordings, and audio recordings. Coding was utilized in the data analysis process. The results showed that in the first step, 19 main concepts were extracted in open coding. During the second step, axial coding was performed on a set of nineteen concepts (open coding). From this set, three subcategories were identified: “the attitude towards the role of women in the business environment,” “the exploitation of women’s labor force”, “the individual, family, and cultural effects of women’s employment.” The discourse concluded with a depiction of the paradigm model, which comprised causal conditions, contextual conditions, consequences, intervening conditions, and strategies. Some suggestions, based on the findings, were recommended in order to increase women’s economic participation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Abdullahi, A., Saadati, M., & Bagheri, A. (2016). Investigating factors influencing women's tendency towards economic activities. Population, 23(97), 1-13. (In Persian)
Ansarinasab, M., & Bidmal, N. (2023). Women’s economic participation and fertility rate in Iran's provinces: application of robust regression in analysis of variance heterogeneity. Journal of Population Association of Iran, 17(34), 145-178. https://doi.org/10.22034/jpai.2023.1988638.1266 (In Persian)
Arshad, M. K., Rana, S. L., Fatima, H., Arif, U., & Hafeez, A. (2023). Women's economic participation and its impact on the economy of Pakistan. Resmilitaris, 13(2), 4932-4940.
Asadzadeh, A., Mirani, N., Ghazi Khani, F., Esmail Darjani, N., & Honardoust, A. (2017). Investigating the role of employment and education of women on economic growth in Iran: Gravitational search algorithm and Firefly algorithm approach. Women in Development and Politics, 15(3), 359-381. https://doi.org/10.22059/jwdp.2017.225995.1007138 (In Persian)
Azizi, F., & Moradi, F. (2022). An analysis of barriers to woman’s economic participation in Iran. The International Journal of Humanities, 29(3), 79-107.
Bazrafshan, M., Hasanzade, I., & Esmaeli, A. (2022). Economic, social and cultural barriers to rural women's jobs and new approaches to rural development Case study of East Golestan province (villages of Gonbad, Minoodasht and Kalaleh counties). Political Sociology of Iran, 4(4), 1067-1088. https://doi.org/10.30510/psi.2022.341246.3469 (In Persian)
Behroozeh, S., Haji, L., & Aghaabbasi, N. (2020). Analysis of factors influencing rural women participation in agricultural activities (Case study: Jiroft Township). Co-Operation and Agriculture, 8(32), 1-26. (In Persian)
Deldadeh Arani, F., & Davoodi, S. M. R. (2021). Identify the challenges facing women working in industry; Case study of women working in Aran and Bidgol industrial towns. Human Resources Excellence, 2(2), 41-65. (In Persian)
Ezghayer, N., & Varahrami, V. (2022). Investigating the factors affecting women's participation in labor market: a case study of Syria. Journal of Economics and Modeling, 13(49), 153-178.     https://doi.org/10.29252/jem.2022.225471.1708 (In Persian)
Faraji Sabokbar, H., Tahmasi, B., & Salimi, F. (2021). Analyzing the challenges of women's participation in rural areas management (Case study: Lavasan Kouchak rural district, Shemiranat County). Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas, 2(2), 51-69.         https://doi.org/10.52547/gsma.2.2.51 (In Persian)
Fotros, M. H., Najmi, M., & Memarzadeh, A. (2017). An analysis of the relationship between women’s employment and fertility rate in Iran. Woman in Development & Politics, 15(3), 311-325.          https://doi.org/10.22059/jwdp.2017.230655.1007176 (In Persian)
Ghafari, Gh., Momeni, F., & Yousefi, N. (2019). The effect of capitals on female labor force participation: A comparative study on European union and Middle East Countries. Social Welfare Quarterly, 19(72), 9-54.     https://doi.org/10.29252/refahj.19.72.9 (In Persian)
Ghafari,Gh., & Yousefi, N. (2018). Unequal opportunity and female labour force participation. Iranian Journal of Sociology, 19(2), 67-98. (In Persian)
Ghasemi, F. (2019). Investigating women’s participation and employment approaches on reliance on indigenous economies in rural communities of Iran. Geography and Human Relationships, 1(4), 541-562. (In Persian)
Hadadmoghadam, M. (2022). Investigating factors affecting women labor force participation in Iran's labor market; emphasizing age and migration variables. Journal of Iranian Economic Issues, 9(1), 97-121.     https://doi.org/10.30465/ce.2022.39824.1745 (In Persian)
Hadipour, M., Faraji Sabokbar, H. A., Davarkhani, F., & Rumyani. A. (2020). Presenting a model for assessing the spatial distribution of women's activity (employment and unemployment) in Iranian counties using knowledge-based systems. Space Economy & Rural Development, 9(2), 149-172. (In Persian)
Hemmat, S., Ghasemi, V., Renani, M., Yazdkhasti, B., Khajenoori, B. (2021). Alternative entrepreneurship: a semantic understanding of the experience of entrepreneur women regarding economic participation in shiraz. Strategic Rssearch on Social Problems in Iran University of Isfahan, 10(2), 23-54. https://doi.org/10.22108/SRSPI.2021.127224.1675 (In Persian)
Ibourk, A., & Elouaourti, Z. (2023). Revitalizing women's labor force participation in north africa: an exploration of novel empowerment pathways. International Economic Journal, 1-23.          https://doi.org/10.1080/10168737.2023.2227161
Karim, S., Kwong, C., Shrivastava, M., & Tamvada, J. P. (2023). My mother-in-law does not like it: resources, social norms, and entrepreneurial intentions of women in an emerging economy. Small Business Economics, 60(2), 409-431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-021-00594-2
Karimi Moughari, Z., Nazifi Nainie, M., & Abbaspour, S. (2013). Evaluating the economic factors affecting employment of women in Iran using artificial neural network approach. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 11(3), 53-80. https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2014.1446 (In Persian)
Khanekeshi, M. & Elmi, Z. M (2023). Economic and demographic factors affecting the economic participation of rural women in the provinces of Iran with emphasis on the age- participation curve. Quarterly Journal of Woman and Society, 14(53), 21-42.         https://doi.org/10.30495/jzvj.2023.30513.3854 (In Persian)
Komaee, R., & Afshari, Z. (2017). The determinants of female labor force participation in selected countries (A panel data analysis). Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological, 15(1), 49-77.     https://doi.org/10.22051/jwsps.2017.13279.1366 (In Persian)
Moshiri, S., Taee, H., & Pashazadeh, H. (2015). Labor force participation in Iran the role of education and gender. Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, 15(2), 49-72. http://ecor.modares.ac.ir/article-18-11700-fa.html (In Persian)
Mozayani, A. H., Sahabi, B., & Mamaleki, M. (2019). Study of cyberspace development impact on women participation in Iran’s economy (A case on women’s employment and fertility rate). Quarterly Journal of Woman and Society, 10(37), 301-330. (In Persian)
Ofori, P. E., Asongu, S. A., Tchamyou, V. S., & Salahodjaev, R. (2023, January). The synergy between governance and trade openness in promoting female economic inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 96, p. 102672). Pergamon.     http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4314900
Parhoodeh, F., Erfani, N., & Parhoodeh, F. (2022). A reflection on the qualitative research approach with emphasis on validity and reliability. Pouyesh in Humanities Education, 8(28), 19-44.        https://humanities.cfu.ac.ir/article_2351.html?lang=fa (In Persian)
Rezaiean Gharagozlou, A., & Rostamalizadeh, V. (2020). Factors deterrent women's economic participation by families in the local community (Case study of women in Behdeh, Parsian city), Journal of Woman & Society, 11(1), 53-78. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20088566.1399.11.41.3.7 (In Persian)
Roumiani, A., Ghasemai Rad, B., & Cherazi, E. (2020). Investigating the role of women's employment in the economy of rural households case study: Bajgiran section of Quchan city. Geographic Thought, 11(22), 114-136. https://geonot.znu.ac.ir/article_38154.html?lang=en (In Persian)
Saadi, H., Yaghoubi Farani, A., Zoleikhaei Sayyar, L., & Ghahremani, F. (2017). Analyzing the barriers and limitations of rural women employment (Case study: Tuyserkan County). Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 6(1), 35-48. https://doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v5i4.47639 (In Persian)
Sadeghi Amroabadi, B., & Boudaghi, A. (2021). Identifying and ranking factors affecting women's economic participation in Khuzestan province with an emphasis on interpretive structural modeling. Journal of Economic & Developmental Sociology, 10(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.22034/jeds.2021.40691.1430 (In Persian)
Safakish, M., & Fallah Mohsenkhani, Z. (2016). A study of the reasons of lack of women's participation in the labor market of Iran. Iranian Journal of Official Statistics Studies, 27(1), 103-119. http://ijoss.srtc.ac.ir/article-1-186-fa.html (In Persian)
Safari, H., Danesh, P., Fakhraei, S. (2020). Sociological analysis of gender gap in economic participation (Case study: urban women of East Azarbaijan Province). Journal of Economic & Developmental Sociology, 9(1), 141-159. (In Persian)
Safayee Pour, M., & Zadvali Khaje, Sh. (2016). Barriers of women economic participation in Iran (Case study: Tabriz Metropolitan). Journal of Economic Sociology and Development, 5(1), 63-85. (In Persian)
Statistical Center of Iran. (2023). Statistical Yearbook of the Country 2021. Presidency, budget and program of Iran Statistical Center. Tehran, 873 pages.
Toulabinejad, M., Sepahvand, A., & Sohrabi, M. (2023). Quality analysis of rural women's participation challenges in agricultural entrepreneurship activities. Women's Strategic Studies, 25(97), 19-224.    https://doi.org/10.22095/jwss.2023.375919.3131 (In Persian)
Zafaranchi, L. S. (2021). Study the pattern of women's economic participation in the labor market by focusing on individual characteristics and household specification. Women Studies, 12(36), 107-131.           https://doi.org/10.30465/ws.2021.5775 (In Persian)