Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Environmental Planning and Management and HSE, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22067/geoeh.2025.85466.1432
Abstract
Introduction
Women, as one of the most important social groups, have always been a focus in theoretical and practical studies related to "sustainability" and "environmental conservation." According to the latest scientific findings and documents, their role in sustainable development and environmental conservation has been increasingly emphasized, particularly because women, especially in rural areas, have a significant impact on environmental and economic sustainability due to their direct connection with natural resources and family responsibilities.
Empowering rural women not only improves their economic and social status but is also recognized as a key strategy for achieving sustainable development and environmental conservation. However, this process faces numerous challenges and obstacles that require careful examination and effective solutions. The present study, using a qualitative approach and the synthesis research method, investigates the impact of empowering rural women on achieving sustainable development and environmental conservation. The main objective of this research is to identify the contexts, influencing factors, challenges, solutions, and effects of empowering rural women in line with achieving sustainability goals.
Material and Methods
This study was conducted using the synthesis research method and a qualitative approach. In the first stage, a comprehensive search was conducted in reputable scientific databases to collect articles, reports, and documents related to the empowerment of rural women and its connection to sustainable development and environmental conservation. After the search, a multi-stage screening process was carried out to select relevant and credible scientific documents. In the next stage, the extracted data from these documents were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding methods. Open coding helped identify initial and micro-level concepts, axial coding organized and categorized these concepts, and finally, selective coding established relationships between the concepts and shaped the theoretical framework of the research. This data analysis process led to the identification of contexts, influencing factors, challenges, solutions, and effects of empowering rural women.
Results and Discussion
Contexts and Factors Influencing/Influenced by the Empowerment of Rural Women
The findings of this study revealed that the empowerment of rural women is influenced by several factors, which are divided into four main categories:
1. Fundamental, Institutional-Organizational, and Structural Factors: These factors include policies, laws, and institutional structures that influence women's empowerment. For example, supportive laws and incentive policies can enhance women's participation in economic and social activities.
2. Historically Institutionalized Inequalities: Gender inequalities that have been historically ingrained in rural societies are a major obstacle to women's empowerment. These inequalities include limited access to resources, education, and employment opportunities.
3. Unjust Contexts of Gender-Sexual Discrimination: Gender discrimination in rural societies deprives women of equal opportunities to participate in economic and social activities.
4. Transformative Contexts: These contexts include opportunities that can lead to positive changes in the status of rural women, such as access to modern technologies, specialized training, and support networks.
Challenges and Obstacles to the Empowerment of Rural Women
The empowerment of rural women faces numerous challenges and obstacles, including:
1. Psychological Challenges and Obstacles: Lack of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and confidence among rural women are major barriers to their empowerment.
2. Educational Challenges and Obstacles: Limited access to quality education and a lack of girls' educational centers in rural areas hinder the enhancement of women's capabilities.
3. Lack of Community Participation: The absence of community involvement in women's empowerment programs and negative attitudes toward these programs are significant challenges.
4. Economic Challenges and Obstacles: Insufficient funding for empowerment programs and the financial difficulties faced by rural women hinder the achievement of sustainability goals.
5. Legal Limitations: Restrictive laws and complex permit acquisition processes for empowerment programs are major obstacles.
6. Socio-Cultural Limitations: Social norms and traditions that confine women to traditional roles hinder their empowerment.
7. Gender-Based Entrepreneurship Limitations: Gender inequalities in access to entrepreneurial opportunities prevent women from participating in economic activities.
Strategies for Empowering Rural Women
To overcome the challenges and obstacles to empowering rural women, several strategies have been proposed, including:
1. Highlighting the Role of Women in Sustainable Rural Development Processes: Increasing women's participation in local and supra-local decision-making and strengthening their role in sustainable development projects.
2. Increasing Access to Creative, Innovative, and Modern Technology Ecosystems: Providing online and virtual education, improving access to high-speed internet, and developing technological infrastructure in rural areas.
3. Uniform Approach to Women's Issues: Creating integrated and coordinated policies for empowering women at local to national levels.
4. Policy Solutions for Women's Empowerment: Formulating supportive laws, providing micro-credits, and establishing support networks for rural women.
5. Modeling and Presenting Appropriate Models: Introducing successful examples of rural women's empowerment and encouraging others to follow these models.
Effects and Benefits of Empowering Rural Women
Empowering rural women has numerous positive effects, including:
1. Stabilizing Ownership, Power, and Role-Playing Contexts for Women: Increasing women's access to financial resources and land, strengthening their decision-making power, and creating suitable contexts for their role-playing.
2. Sustainable Environmental Conservation with Women's Role-Playing: Women's participation in environmental conservation and sustainable development projects leads to reduced conservation costs and improved natural resource management.
3. Sustainable Economic Growth and Social Development with Women's Role-Playing: Empowering rural women contributes to increased household income, poverty reduction, and improved social development indicators.
Conclusions
The results of this study indicate that empowering rural women plays a key role in achieving sustainable development and environmental conservation. The path to sustainable development and environmental conservation can begin with educating rural women and enhancing their capabilities, as there is a sequential cycle between environmental education, empowering rural women, their active participation, and achieving environmental conservation. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to strengthen the contexts and factors influencing the empowerment of rural women, identify and address existing challenges and obstacles, and implement effective strategies for empowering rural women. Ultimately, empowering rural women not only improves their economic and social status but is also recognized as a key strategy for achieving sustainable development and environmental conservation.
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