Relationship Between Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Dimensions of Rural Women in Fars Province

Abstract

In the conceptual frame of rural and agricultural development, the emphasis on improving the quality and empowerment of rural women and advancement of their working conditions in rural communities is what needs to be carefully stressed. Entrepreneurship development and empowerment are in complementary touch with each other and lead to strengthening women in various entrepreneurial activities including social, economic and cultural fields. This research is set out to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship, empowerment capacities and analyze the structures affecting the various aspects of rural women's empowerment in Fars province. Implementing a survey method and questionnaires, the present research is conducted among rural women entrepreneurs membered in Agricultural Activities Backing Company in Fars. Totally, a sample of 393 participants was selected through stratified random sampling. According to the findings of regression analysis, the variables of entrepreneurship motivation, entrepreneurship development, participation in training courses, entrepreneurship knowledge, the rate of applying information resources, environmental factors (business environment), supportive policies, and skills in compiling a business plan were able of predicting 56% of women's empowerment changes. The variables of entrepreneurship motivation in entrepreneurial activities, supportive policies and the skills of compiling a business plan depicted the maximum and minimum rate of predicting women's empowerment changes, respectively. The availability of raw and in process materials, ratification of the appropriate laws in line with improving women's business, women's participation in training courses held by the company, improving the conditions for selling products, increasing more positive interest and motivation among the company members and paying attention to the professional needs of membered women are among the focal suggestions of the present research.