@article { author = {Pishgahifard, Zahra and Ghanbari, Ali and Motaghi, Samira and Motaghi, Afshin}, title = {An Evaluation of the Impact of Development Process on Female Employment in Iran}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {5-19}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract Human development and the importance of focusing on women’s participation has become one of the main concerns and issues attracting the attention of many people. In fact, many gender-related models and patterns have been proposed in this regard. Accordingly, this paper is an attempt to evaluate the effects of development process on women’s participation in Iran using an econometrics method (OLS), and to show the impact of economic, social and cultural development from 1985 to 2004 on the employment of Iranian women. The results of this study show that during this period, socio-cultural development had a positive effect on female employment while economic development had a negative impact.}, keywords = {Iran. Economic development. Social development. Cultural development. Female employment}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21838.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21838_642e3edd25651da436654dd836bf2016.pdf} } @article { author = {Agheli, LotfAli and Mohammad Ghaffari, Hassan}, title = {A Study of Factors Affecting Elderly Women’s Retirement and Participation in the Labor Market: a Case Study in Tehran}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {21-41}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract While the level of women’s participation in the labor market is on the rise in the world, the level of participation of Iranian women has not proportionately increased, and women constitute only a small portion of the active population in Iran. Among factors affecting women’s participation in the labor market are the decisions concerning retirement and the willingness to work by the middle-aged population. This study is an attempt to investigate the factors affecting women’s participation and retirement in the labor market in Tehran. According to the results of a cross-sectional data analysis in Tehran carried out in 2008, 20% (18 women) of the sample population were re-employed after retirement. The rate of women’s participation is very low during retirement and old age. According to the results of ‘Logit Regression Model’, the later the elderly people retire, the less likely they are to participate in the labor market after retirement. Women are especially more inclined to expedite the retirement process than men. In addition, aging and increased work experience helping women to get out of the labor market more easily and in contrast, educational achievements, family expenditure and the number of people supported by the retired person increase the participation level after middle age.}, keywords = {Elderly women. Employment. Retirement. Rate of participation.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21839.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21839_e3390aa9c19e2f42398be852911a642e.pdf} } @article { author = {Moinifar, Heshmat Sadat}, title = {Higher Education of Women in Iran: Progress or Problem?}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {43-60}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract Many scholars believe that investment in women’s education not only reduces the gender gap, but also improves and enhances the cultural and educational level of women in the society. Furthermore, economists believe that women’s education has a positive effect on their participation in the labor market. Education is amongst the most important factors which not only benefits the people who receive it, but also has different advantages for the society as a whole. Although some of these advantages such as the social output of education is not measurable by monetary quantities and cannot be included in financial accountings, it is wise for societies to invest on education, and the role of governments in this area is vital. In Iran, in the last two decades, girls’ entrees into the universities have had a growing trend. The percentage of girls’ entrance into the universities and institutes during the academic year 2007-2008 exceeded 60 percent. One of the obstacles that educated women in Iran face is unemployment. High unemployment rate reveals that in recent decades, due to the lack of labor market flexibility, the needs of manpower in the country have not been met. Research based on state statistics reveals that the rate of unemployment among educated women has had a seven fold increase; the highest increase during last decade from 3 percent in 1997 to 21 percent in 2002. This article deals with the presence of women in higher education and discusses the positive and negative consequences of this increase. Moreover, it deals with the problems of female graduates in the labor market, and the necessity of change in higher education planning to meet their needs in the labor market and remove the obstacles.}, keywords = {Iran. Women. Higher education. Educational investments. Labor market.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21840.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21840_865e26d79b40f5b0a574d39eeddb5712.pdf} } @article { author = {Rafatjah, Maryam}, title = {Changing Gender Stereotypes in Iran}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {61-75}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract In recent decades, because of the vast socio-cultural changes which occurred in Iran, Iranian women have experienced new values and identities and they have achieved more advanced education and consciousness, so that they oppose the gender stereotypes which attribute inferior characteristics to women and cause inequalities and limitations in their everyday life. Although gender stereotypes still exist both in people’s minds and in Iranian social institutions, it seems that the intensity of gender stereotypes is declining nowadays. The findings of this study demonstrate that in the domestic sphere, gender stereotypes tend to persist and this situation causes some paradoxes in the responsibilities and values concerning family. Women have stepped into the public sphere and participated in providing the family expenditures, but men still underestimate household chores and do not tend to take part in them. On the other hand, occupations are still divided into feminine and masculine in the minds of Iranians. Accordingly, a large section of Iran’s job market is still considered masculine. However, gender views towards women’s employment show some improvement so that working outdoors is not allocated only to men and women’s employment is accepted. Finally, it is found that the intensity of gender differentiation is declining both in people’s minds and social institutions.}, keywords = {Iran. Gender stereotypes. Social differentiation. Social sphere. Domestic sphere. Job market. Gender division of labor.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21841.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21841_4665d289681fb6008648b1bca49a5e8e.pdf} } @article { author = {Zand Razavi, Siamak and Zyaii, Keyvan and Hesam Mazaheri, Mohsen and Moradi, Ali Reza}, title = {Measuring the Status of Young Women’s Social Capital in Tehran and the Effect of Individual and Psychological Factors}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {77-98}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract Considering the importance of conducting studies on youth, young girls in particular, and also the importance of paying attention to social capital and its role in development process of a society and decreasing social problems and loss; the present study is an attempt to investigate the structure of social capital and its constructing components (solidarity, social participation, ethical values and social trust). In addition, the mental factors affecting social participation are considered at the subjective dimension and micro level of social capital. To this end, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire, and 386 single women ranging in age from 15 to 40 participated. The sample population was identified using a stratified multistage method. The validity test used in this study is construct validity (KMO > 0.60) and face validity. The reliability is tested using Cronbach Alpha test (r > 0.7 for all variables). The results imply an average condition for social capital in the sample population and this situation is observed in almost all of the 22 districts of Tehran. Among the constructing components of social capital, the status of social participation in these regions is better than other variables, but the status of solidarity is weaker and lower in comparison to other variables. Among the mental factors affecting social capital, only the correlation between the variables ‘feeling of worthiness’ (directly) and ‘feeling of lack of power’ (indirectly) are confirmed, which is a weak correlation. In other words, this correlation does not play a major role in explaining the variance of the variable ‘social capital’.}, keywords = {Social capital. Social participation. Trust. Social solidarity. Ethical values.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21842.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21842_70d7081eceb6938ae311242e9b580800.pdf} } @article { author = {Mousavi, Mohammad Ali and Rouintan, Maryam}, title = {Feminism and Abortion in the United States’ Party Politics}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {86-105}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract The feminist movement in the United States like other countries has tried to establish equality for women. From the first attempts to gain constitutional right for vote, up to the current radical demands, feminists have struggled to make changes in the U.S. party politics and obtain their rights within the parties. One of the important issues in which women played a key role in party politics is the issue of abortion. In this article, U.S. party politics on abortion, the role of the feminist movement in the process of legalization and the controversies regarding it are studied. Through two major social movements known as “pro-choice” and “pro-life”, feminists mainly follow their goals and attitudes on abortion. In political realm, Democrats, due to their liberal approaches, are commonly known to be pro-choice, while Republicans are known as pro-life supporters. Being pro-choice or pro-life for these two political parties has created debates and controversies which are examined in this article. U.S. feminists from the beginning have tried their best to elect women to send to the Congress and political parties; since they believe that if they want to get things done in U.S., they have to enter the parties and work for change inside them. Therefore, as indicated in this paper, U.S. party politics have been remarkably influenced by the feminist movements about abortion. This paper, arguing abortion from the lens of the two major US party institutions, focuses on the political and social domains and feminist movements’ arguments.}, keywords = {Abortion. US party politics. Republicans. Democrats. Feminists. Pro-life. Pro-choice.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21843.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21843_29ed239376858436ca00a13514ceff41.pdf} } @article { author = {Haji Mohammadi, Ali}, title = {Critical Analysis of Women’s Representation in TV Advertisements from a Cultural Studies Perspective}, journal = {International Journal of Women's Research}, volume = {1}, number = {1}, pages = {107-122}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Center for Women's Studies and Research, University of Tehran}, issn = {2322-3901}, eissn = {2463-2345}, doi = {}, abstract = {Abstract Through the interpretation of texts, and subsequent creation of social reality, mediated representations are often seen to be presented within the certain of ideological discourses that reflect the existing power structures. The main objective of this paper is to analyze television commercials with an emphasis on gender roles to decode the main elements of a dominant discourse (preferred readings) and representation mechanisms; and the elements' relationships with ideology, hegemony and power relations in reproducing a dominant discourse. Grounded in an interdisciplinary theoretical framework of cultural studies and critical studies perspectives, the two-layer analysis is used in this paper – a semiotic and critical discourse analysis of television commercials with an emphasize on gender roles and ideology. The results demonstrate that the TV advertisements selected in this paper represent dominant gender relations and reproduce traditional values. Furthermore, these representations illustrate a contradiction between society and media in gender roles.}, keywords = {TV advertisements. Representation of women. Gender roles. Critical discourse analysis. Ideology.}, url = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21844.html}, eprint = {https://ijwr.ut.ac.ir/article_21844_94403b28336b2e81a74381a3edcee02c.pdf} }