Women’s Employment and the Socio-Emotional Functions of the Family in Iran

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran

2 Master of adult education, university of Tehran. Instructor, Abadeh Tashk Branch, Islamic Azad University

3 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between
women’s employment and the socio-emotional functions of the family. For the purpose
of this study, 300 women were selected through method among women living
in district 11 of Tehran. 199 individuals were unemployed and 101 individuals
were employed. They responded a researcher-made questionnaire which measured
social and emotional functions of the family. Social functions of the family were
assessed in three aspects of children’s academic achievement, children’s social adjustment,
and women’s decision-making power in the family. Furthermore, emotional
functions were assessed in two dimensions of women’s intimacy with their
husbands and women’s involvement in making decisions about reproduction. The
findings of the study indicated that in the social function of the family, there was
no relationship between women’s employment and children’s social adjustment and
academic achievement; however, there was a positive relationship between women’s
employment and their decision-making power in the family. In the emotional
function of the family, there was no relationship between women’s employment
and their intimate relationships with their husbands or with their decision making
about reproduction and fertility.

Keywords