| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
Abstract
Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a vital solution for generating jobs, income, and economic development globally. However, rural areas often possess fragile and underdeveloped structures, making them particularly susceptible to challenges. Entrepreneurship has the potential to address some of these issues; yet, it faces numerous obstacles, especially for women in these communities. This study aimed to investigate the barriers to women's entrepreneurship in the villages of Baghbahadoran. The statistical sample comprised rural women selected by using the Cochran formula, resulting in a sample size of 250 individuals with a margin of error set at 0.06. 9 villages were chosen through a cluster-random sampling method across 3 rural districts. The validity of the research questionnaire was confirmed by experts and a pre-test yielded a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.725, indicating the tool's reliability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software by employing factor analysis to identify key barriers to entrepreneurship. The results indicated that economic and social factors were the most significant barriers. Specifically, the most pressing economic obstacles included "rural women's access to loans and banking facilities" (variance = 0.867), "rural women's inability to secure bank collateral" (variance = 0.848), and "issues related to taxes, current expenses, and insurance" (variance = 0.804). In terms of cultural and social barriers, the most critical challenges identified were the "lack of communication and recognition of successful female entrepreneurs" and "cultural restrictions on women's entrepreneurial activities", both showing a variance of 0.791.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Rural Women, Rural Development, Baghbahadoran.
Introduction
Today, a revolutionary shift is underway, reminiscent of the Industrial Revolution, which is poised to transform the world. This shift is reshaping market structures and liberating the economy from the dominance of large corporations, heralding what is known as the "entrepreneurial revolution". Rural settlements, which account for nearly 43% of the global population, represent some of the most underdeveloped regions. By 2050, the rural population is projected to reach approximately 1.3 billion, with around 70% of this demographic living in poverty. Under these circumstances, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals becomes increasingly challenging. Despite this, rural areas are rich in untapped opportunities that could yield significant benefits through timely exploitation and establishment of new businesses. Presently, rural development is more intertwined with entrepreneurial activities than ever before, potentially serving as a catalyst for growth in these communities. Women constitute a vulnerable segment of society as they were largely overlooked in development programs until the 1970s. Although they represent about half of the working-age population, they remain underrepresented in many fields, including entrepreneurship, often being referred to as "lost entrepreneurs" In the study area of Baghbahadoran, despite the presence of both natural and human resources, we continue to face challenges, such as economic instability, unemployment, migration, and poverty, with these issues disproportionately affecting women. This study aimed to explore the obstacles and challenges faced by rural women in entrepreneurship within the sector of Baghbahadoran.
Materials & Methods
This research was practical in purpose and employed a descriptive, analytical, and survey-based approach. Data were collected through two primary methods: field methods, including questionnaires, observations, and interviews, as well as library research involving books, magazines, articles, and electronic resources. To analyze the data, both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were utilized. The statistical population comprised rural women from the area of Baghbahadoran with a total of 250 completed questionnaires. Participants were selected using a cluster-random sampling method from 3 hamlets across 9 villages. Factor analysis was employed as the statistical method to interpret the data. The study area was located in Baghbahadoran District of Lenjan County in Isfahan Province.
Research Findings
Descriptive analysis revealed that 93.6% of respondents were married, while 6.4% were single. The majority of participants fell within the age group of 36 to 45 years. Over 45% of the sample had education levels ranging from primary to diploma. Additionally, 61.2% of respondents reported having 3 to 4 family members. In terms of occupational status, 67.5% identified as housewives. Regarding income, the highest proportion (44.8%) reported earnings below 3 million. In the social index, the statement "rural women do not know entrepreneurs" received the highest average score of 3.80. Conversely, the statement "the villagers do not accept women's entrepreneurship" scored the lowest with an average of 2.10. Within the individual and family index, the statement "women's inability to attract investors" had the highest average at 3.83, while "women's irresponsibility" had the lowest average at 1.80. In the economic index, most items scored an average of nearly 4 or higher. All options in the management index averaged above 3. For the environmental index, "rural dispersion" had the highest average at 3.79, while "distance to supply centers and sales markets" scored 3.70. The statement regarding deprivation of infrastructure (such as water and electricity) had the lowest average.
To identify the most significant obstacles affecting women's entrepreneurship development in the villages of Baghbahadoran Sector, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted. 13 out of 45 factors were extracted, all with eigenvalues above 1, accounting for 66.829% of the total variance. Among these, 4 factors were identified as particularly influential in hindering entrepreneurship.
Discussion of Results & Conclusion
The findings indicated that the primary obstacles to the development of entrepreneurship among rural women in the sector of Baghbahadoran were as follows: lack of access to loans and banking facilities for entrepreneurship (factor = 0.867), inability to provide bank-required collateral (factor = 0.848), challenges related to paying taxes, insurance, and other costs (factor = 0.804).
These factors fell within the "economic dimension" and represented significant barriers to entrepreneurship. In the "cultural-social dimension", 2 additional barriers ranked closely behind: lack of knowledge and communication with successful entrepreneurs (factor = 0.791) and village culture and restrictions on women's entrepreneurship (factor = 0.791).
These cultural and social barriers were among the most critical challenges faced by women’s entrepreneurs in Baghbahadoran Sector. Overall, economic barriers were ranked as the most significant followed closely by cultural and social obstacles, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the challenges confronting rural women's entrepreneurship in this area. |