1- University of Mohaghegh Ardabili
Abstract: (127 Views)
Introduction and Objective : ntrepreneurship in rural areas can address several challenges, including unemployment, low income, and lack of economic diversity. Given the undeniable role of women in rural development, strengthening rural women’s entrepreneurship is considered an effective strategy for achieving sustainable rural development. Ardabil County, due to its economic conditions, the prevalence of certain religious interpretations, and its traditional rural structure, does not provide favorable conditions for entrepreneurial activities—particularly for women. Despite the substantial potential for women's employment in fields such as handicrafts and home-based industries, the local community’s attitude toward women's employment is often unfavorable. Consequently, and in light of the county’s underdevelopment, the participation of women—especially rural women—in economic activities remains very low. Accordingly, the present study aims to identify the inhibiting and promoting factors affecting the development of rural women's entrepreneurship in the villages of the central district of Ardabil County.
Materials and Methods This study employed an analytical–descriptive research design, applied in purpose, and based on a quantitative–qualitative approach. Qualitative content analysis (grounded theory) was used to examine previous studies and related resources. Data were collected through library research and field methods. The statistical population consisted of women from rural households in Ardabil County. Sample villages were selected based on two criteria: having more than 20 households and having a local council or dehyar administrative structure. In total, 86 villages in the central district met this criterion. A stratified multi-stage sampling method was applied. Using Cochran's formula, the sample size was determined to be 358 households, and questionnaires were distributed proportionally among the selected villages. To investigate the subject, 36 items across five dimensions were used for the promoting factors, and 39 items across seven dimensions for the inhibiting factors, based on previous research. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated as 0.842, indicating acceptable reliability. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using LISREL software was employed to analyze the collected data.
Results : Based on the results obtained regarding inhibiting factors, the highest factor loading among social and cultural factors was related to the item “lack of recognition of opportunities to start a business among rural women” (factor loading = 0.84). Among economic factors, it was “failure to establish preferred jobs for women in rural areas” (factor loading = 0.85); among educational factors, “lack of sufficient skills and expertise among rural women” (factor loading = 0.83); among managerial factors, “lack of coordination between organizations and institutions to promote entrepreneurship” (factor loading = 0.83); among psychological factors, “risk aversion and low risk-taking tendency among women” (factor loading = 0.79); among technical factors, “lack of access to up-to-date technology and knowledge in various fields for rural women” (factor loading = 0.85); and among policymaking factors, “absence of organizations, associations, or guilds to support women entrepreneurs at the societal level” (factor loading = 0.80). In other words, these indicators played the most significant role in influencing the latent variables (inhibiting factors of rural women’s entrepreneurship development).Furthermore, based on the results obtained regarding driving factors, community environment (effect coefficient = 0.922), infrastructure (effect coefficient = 0.882), and social factors (effect coefficient = 0.867) were identified as the most important drivers of rural women’s entrepreneurship development. Among these, the highest factor loading for social factors was “determination to create employment for rural women” (factor loading = 0.82); for economic factors, “attention to small and micro enterprises in villages” (factor loading = 0.79); for infrastructure factors, “enhancing productivity of existing environmental and natural resources in villages” (factor loading = 0.82); for educational factors, “training and conducting basic entrepreneurship courses for women” (factor loading = 0.80); and for community environment factors, “availability of primary resources in the studied area” (factor loading = 0.79). In other words, these indicators had the most substantial impact on changes in the latent variables (driving factors of rural women’s entrepreneurship development).
Conclusion : The results indicate that managerial weakness is the most influential inhibiting factor, whereas the social environment is the most significant promoting factor in the development of rural women's entrepreneurship. Strengthening these factors and considering their interrelationships can foster the desirable and sustainable development of women’s entrepreneurship in the central district of Ardabil County.Based on the findings, several recommendations are proposed. These include facilitating greater participation of women in the labor market, particularly in occupations where women are highly capable—such as handicrafts, carpet weaving, and sewing. Traditional beliefs in the region, such as the notion that only men should work outside the home, should be addressed through awareness-raising and education. Supportive policies—such as tax reductions and expanded tax exemptions for entrepreneurial units in rural areas—should be implemented. Establishing and developing local markets and improving marketing channels for locally produced goods are also essential. In addition, organizing training programs for husbands and heads of households to raise awareness of the economic potential of women, providing financial credit for entrepreneurial initiatives, and fostering a culture that supports women’s presence in social and economic activities can significantly contribute to the advancement of entrepreneurship among rural women.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
