A sociological study of empowerment (economic and social), native understanding, factors affecting its growth and obstacles in rural woman society

Authors

1 PhD in Rural Development Sociology, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor of Economic, Faculty of Economics, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

3 Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

With further development, we are still seeing widespread poverty as capability deprivation. Reason of poverty as capability deprivation is lack of empowerment in Society. In the present study, Native Understanding of social and economic empowerment, factors affecting the growth of it and barriers by qualitative method has been examined. Study participants are women and girls of village Chokochephesht in Rezvanshahr in Gilan. The semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participatory and direct observation to collect data and method of the qualitative content analysis and grounded theory was used to analyze the data. from the localized and native point of view, the most important component of social empowerment of women is marriage and the most important component of economic empowerment is their job. Some of factors affecting the growth of empowerment are as follow: Several relatives living together, the ties of kinship, social capital, cooperation, social solidarity, support another, access to some facilities, incentive for hard working. The illiteracy, early marriage, single women, failed marriage, live in extended family, gossip, financial weakness, attitude toward the location of work place, lack of marketing facilities, weakness of informational capital, Inappropriate status of supporter, discrimination and continuation of restrictive informal norms lead to weakness of social and economic empowerment of rural women and girls. Ignoring the ongoing problems, lack of attempt for changes because of facing disagreement of others, following the habit of ancients, acceptance of current situation and insufficient attempt to improve their empowerment are the ongoing strategies dominant in the situation. Each of these strategies will have its consequences that includes: violation of basics rights, the loss of opportunity, lack of bargaining power, unemployment, being exposed to abuse, being subjected to physical and verbal violence, deception, shame, ridicule, humiliation and insult by the others, degradation of self-esteem, weakness of confidence, income poverty, poverty as capability deprivation, depression, pain, illness, lack of peace, self- blame, blaming others, Sense of swindle, continuation of restrictive informal norms and face of leading people with resistance from others. Based on the findings, the impact of opportunity structure particularly the informal institutions on empowerment is crucial. Many obstacles to growth of Empowerment of rural women and girls present which are the roots of all these barriers weakness of knowledge (in the micro and macro levels of society).

Keywords