Introduction
In recent years, rural development, as one of the key elements in achieving sustainable development, has attracted considerable attention in policymaking, development programs, and academic studies. Despite diverse natural, human, and cultural capacities, rural areas continue to face challenges such as poverty, unemployment, migration, livelihood instability, and declining social capital. These constraints not only reduce the quality of life of residents but also threaten the economic and social sustainability of these communities. Under such conditions, rural entrepreneurship, as a modern development strategy, can play a significant role in strengthening economic infrastructure, reducing poverty, creating employment, and enhancing the socio-economic resilience of rural areas.
Rural entrepreneurship is not limited merely to the establishment of small businesses; rather, it is a multidimensional process that, by utilizing local resources, indigenous knowledge, and social capital, enables the diversification of economic activities and reduces dependence on monoculture agriculture. Research has shown that the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas can contribute to the economic and social revitalization of these regions by creating new employment opportunities, reducing migration, and improving quality of life. However, achieving the real impact of entrepreneurship in rural contexts requires special attention to the characteristics and capacities of different social groups, particularly women.


Materials and Methods
The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive–analytical in nature and methodology. The statistical population of the study consists of women entrepreneurs residing in the rural areas of Ramhormoz County who, in recent years, have been engaged in entrepreneurship related to agricultural food products. According to the Department of Education and Extension of the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Ramhormoz County, the number of women entrepreneurs in the rural areas of this county is approximately 150. Given the limited size of this population, all individuals were selected as the study sample. The sampling method was simple random sampling, and the research data were collected using a research instrument (questionnaire).
The instrument used in this study was a researcher-developed questionnaire, the validity of which was confirmed through content (face) validity and construct validity, while its reliability was verified using composite reliability. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Accordingly, descriptive statistics were used to examine demographic characteristics and research variables, while the research questions were analyzed using a variance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) approach with the aid of SPSS and SmartPLS software. This approach enables the researcher to treat the main variables involved in the theoretical model as latent variables and to incorporate measurement errors into the estimation of parameters related to model testing, thereby resulting in more accurate and reliable estimates.


Results and Discussion
The findings of the present study indicate that entrepreneurial capabilities—including autonomy, innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness—have a significant and positive effect on the empowerment of rural women in Ramhormoz County. This relationship was confirmed through path analysis, with a coefficient of 0.678 and statistical significance at the 0.001 level. In other words, the more rural women are empowered in these dimensions, the greater their ability to actively participate in economic and social processes, which in turn leads to increased economic independence, self-confidence, decision-making power, and social participation.
Considering the role of entrepreneurship in improving livelihoods and enhancing women’s human capital, this finding highlights a practical pathway for the empowerment of rural women through the development of entrepreneurial skills and attitudes. The descriptive findings of the study also showed that a considerable proportion of the women surveyed—approximately 72%—are engaged in economic activities, and 66% have participated in entrepreneurship-related training courses. This, in itself, can provide a foundation for skill development and increased self-confidence among women, a notion that is consistent with the entrepreneurship literature emphasizing the role of education and learning in the development of women’s individual and social capabilities.

Conclusions
The results of the study showed that strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities significantly contributes to increasing women’s economic independence, decision-making power, and social participation. This empowerment process, in addition to improving household welfare and increasing income, challenges traditional gender norms, enhances women’s leadership roles, and facilitates inclusive rural development. The present study emphasizes the importance of targeted entrepreneurship training, institutional support, and effective policymaking in empowering rural women and, by identifying influential factors and existing barriers, provides practical insights for policymakers and development organizations.