نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Introduction
Women, particularly rural women, often face discrimination and are considered one of the most marginalized groups. Despite their active roles in various aspects such as family, agriculture, and services, they have limited access to resources and opportunities. This study focuses on the rural areas of Kaghazkonan district in Mianeh city, where a significant number of women are engaged in various activities. With the increasing presence of information and communication technology (ICT) in the region, there is a growing interest among women to utilize these tools for empowerment. This research aims to explore the impact of ICT on the empowerment of rural women in terms of psychological, political, and social dimensions.
Materials and Methods
This study adopts an applied and descriptive-analytical approach and targets rural households in 69 villages of Kaghazkonan district. A sample of 2134 women over 18 years old from 9 selected villages was surveyed using a questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, including structural equations and sample t-tests. The study considers ICT capabilities as the independent variable and women's empowerment in economic, social, political, and psychological dimensions as the dependent variable.
Results and Discussion
The findings reveal that the average age of respondents is 39.41 years, with a household size of 3.5 people. The majority of respondents are housewives, and the highest educational level is middle school and sub-diploma. The analysis of women's empowerment dimensions indicates varying levels across different aspects, with public affairs scoring the highest and decision-making the lowest. Similarly, ICT dimensions show variations, with access to ICT scoring highest and familiarity with ICT scoring lowest. Factor analysis suggests that ICT has a significant impact on psychological, political, social, and economic empowerment of rural women.
Conclusions
The study highlights the interest of village women in utilizing ICT for personal and professional development, despite limited access and familiarity with these technologies. The findings underscore the need for improved educational opportunities and awareness programs to enhance women's engagement with ICT tools.
کلیدواژهها English