Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD Student in Economics, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accounting, Yazd University, Yazd
2 yazd universityProfessor of Economics, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accounting, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Suicide is an issue related to public health. Although it is done by an individual, not only the conditions of the family and society play a role in creating this behavior, but also after suicide, the family and society are affected by its consequences. The economic, social, and family damage caused by this phenomenon has raised it as a concern of policymakers and thinkers in this field. Therefore, the effect of various economic and social factors on suicide has been investigated in numerous studies, but few studies have considered the change in society's conditions toward gender equality in this field. Different views have been proposed regarding the effect of gender equality on suicide. According to the status integration theory, there is a positive relationship between gender equality and suicide due to the conflict of the roles of different statuses, but the supporters of the role expansion theory believe that gender equality leads to the reduction of suicide in society due to the benefits of different roles. Finally, according to convergence theory, there is convergence in gender roles between men and women, as well as stress levels and behaviors, and this in turn leads to convergence in health levels for women and men. Accordingly, women may benefit from the positive effects of role expansion, but it is possible that they may also experience the harmful effects of poor working conditions and face increased stress from longer working hours. While men can benefit from adopting less masculine beliefs and behaviors such as child care. Based on the convergence theory and considering that the probability of men dying due to suicide is higher in most parts of the world, it can be assumed that with the increase in gender equality and convergence in gender roles, the suicide rate of women increases and the suicide rate of men decreases, and the sum of these two effect should be investigated with experimental tests.
Method: Due to the different cultural, economic, and social characteristics of each province, it is expected that there is a difference in the relationship between gender equality and suicide. Based on this, this evaluation was carried out separately for Iran's provinces from 2016 to 2022, and the required data was extracted from the sources published by the Statistical Centre of Iran in the form of a library. After calculating the variables of the share of female students in the population of women aged 20–34 years, the ratio of the share of female students to men in the population of the age group 20–34 years, the ratio of the economic participation rate of women to men, the unemployment rate and the divorce rate, panel data regression model is used to evaluate factors affecting suicide.
Results: The results of this research indicate that the share of female students in the provinces and gender equality in the participation rate in the labor market had a negative and significant effect on suicide, while the increase in the variables of the ratio of female to male students, unemployment rate and divorce rate have increased the suicide rate in the provinces of Iran during the study period.
The findings of this research show that the improvement of the position of women compared to men in accessing higher education facilities can create needs and expectations for women that, if society is not able to respond to them, will cause frustration, despair, and other negative consequences, even to the extent of suicide. On the other hand, this may even play a role in creating psychological pressure on men. This finding supports the status integration theory and is consistent with the results of Mayer's (2000) study, which showed that the rate of suicide increases with increasing gender equality. Despite this, the results of the present research show that the increase in gender equality in economic participation due to the increase in the economic security of the family due to access to more financial resources leads to a decrease in suicide. This finding is consistent with the results of the study by Chen et al. (2024), follows the view of Sieber (1974) and Marks (1977), and supports the role accumulation theory. According to the role expansion theory or role accumulation theory, any additional role given to a person has advantages for him. For example, the entry of women into the labor market leads to an increase in income and a decrease in the level of financial stress in the family. Also, it is expected that with the employment of women and the strengthening of their bonds with colleagues, other members of society, and the expansion of relationships and social support, suicide will decrease. In addition, the increase in unemployment and, as a result, the weakening of the social integration of people, the increase in stress and despair, and the increase in economic problems cause an increase in suicide in society. Also, the findings indicate that the increase in the rate of divorce increases the rate of suicide in the provinces due to mental, physical, economic, social, and family pressures. In other words, provinces with higher divorce rates will experience more suicides.
Conclusion: The results of this research indicate the possibility of adjusting the social damage to suicide according to the position of women in society, and it indicates the importance of policymakers' attention to the role of gender equality in various fields, including education and the labor market. In addition, the results of this research show that by increasing job opportunities and reducing unemployment, the rate of suicide can be reduced in the provinces. Also, based on the findings, with society's efforts to create stable family bonds and marriages, the result of which is the cohesion and strengthening of family bonds and the prevention of divorce and family breakups, it can be an effective tool to deal with social harms such as suicide. Based on this, society should spread rational marriages with the aim of stable marriages. Because irrational and unstable marriages lead to social harm, including suicide. In general, any policy can be considered only from a quantitative aspect or enough attention can be paid to the qualitative aspect of that policy. For example, concern about population growth can lead to policies to facilitate marriage. While not paying attention to the quality aspects of marriage can cause more damage to society, unstable marriages that lead to the breakdown of the family and society, in addition to causing depression and the spread of violence such as suicide, foster a hopeless and unhealthy generation. So, in addition to the quantity of marriage, its quality should also be considered. Because unsuccessful marriages will impose costs on society, such as increasing suicides.
Keywords: Education, Gender Equality, Labor Market, Iran's Provinces, Suicide
JEL Classification: J12, I24, R23
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