Designing a Model of Gender Inequality in the Economic Disempowerment of Iranian Women

Abstract

This study aimed to develop a context-sensitive model explaining the mechanisms underlying the formation, persistence, and reproduction of gender inequality in the economic disempowerment of Iranian women. This study constituted the qualitative phase of a mixed-methods research project and employed Strauss and Corbin’s systematic grounded theory approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 women with relevant experiences, experts, and practitioners in the field of women’s empowerment. Sampling initially followed a purposive maximum-variation strategy and subsequently proceeded theoretically until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data collection and analysis were conducted concurrently through open, axial, and selective coding, constant comparison, and integration of the resulting categories within a paradigmatic model. The analysis of relationships among the emergent categories indicated that women’s economic disempowerment develops through a multilevel and self-reinforcing mechanism. Gender socialization, unequal resource allocation, restricted opportunities, women’s caregiving burden, and legal and institutional constraints emerged as the principal generative conditions. Their effects were reinforced by traditional gender norms, cultural and regional restrictions, and the internalization of inequality, while economic pressure, educational and skill capital, geographical location, macro-level crises, and access to financial support operated as intensifying or moderating conditions. Conversely, education and skill development, economic agency, self-employment, independent income generation, financial and professional support, supportive networks, and income diversification emerged as mechanisms capable of disrupting the cycle of economic disempowerment. The final model further suggested that reduced decision-making power, economic insecurity, restricted career advancement, and loss of human capital recursively contribute to the reproduction of gender inequality over time. Gender inequality in the economic disempowerment of Iranian women is a dynamic and cyclical phenomenon arising from interactions among individual, familial, cultural, economic, and institutional factors. Effective empowerment policies should therefore simultaneously promote skill development, independent income, sustainable employment opportunities, removal of structural barriers, and stronger financial, professional, and social support networks.