Journal of University Studies

Journal of University Studies

A qualitative study of the role of higher education in the participation of women in civil and social institutions

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
1 Graduated in Women's Studies, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD in Sociology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Sociology, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
4 Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Studies, Institute for Cultural, Social and Civilization Studies, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Women's participation in the economic, social and political life is one of the indicators for measuring the level of development of societies. But the presence of women in society and civil institutions always faces limitations due to the traditional culture and the prominent role of men and their resistance to handing over their power to women. In the meantime, women's education and their strong presence in higher education have been able to neutralize some of these obstacles. The purpose of this research with qualitative method is an attempt to explain the role and place of higher education in women’s participation in civil and social institutions and opportunities and challenges they face. The study is conducted through semi-structured interviews based on grounded theory. The research population is women with higher education and working in Tehran. Altogether 19 people were selected and interviewed through the theoretical sampling method. Accordingly, 8 main categories and one core category were extracted through the data coding system: widespread representation of social responsibility, moral activism, expansion of collective conscience and individual empowerment, generalized financial and occupational restrictions of civil institutions, multifaceted social life, socio-economic challenges for women, limiting socialization and non-skill training, structural-political challenges of civil institutions, changing gender appearances and rejecting stereotypes of femininity and promoting self-efficacy and participation. The results showed that although there are many challenges and obstacles for women's participation in civil and social institutions, but reviving the collective conscience and restoring their social responsibility, women can overcome the obstacles and follow the path of empowerment.
Keywords

Subjects


Amini Zare, S. & Allah Khani, S. (2021). Women's job position in the light of glass ceiling theory. Journal of Research in Psychology and Educational, 4(58), 51-64.
Aris, S., Sarfi, T., Akhavan, M., & Sabbar, S. (2023). Motivations for Consuming Avatar-Specific Virtual Items on the Zepeto Gaming Platform. Cadernos de Educação Tecnologia e Sociedade, 16(4), 1248-1258.
Atay, Ö. (2023). Women in turkish higher education management. South Florida Journal of Development4(3), 1216-1230.
Barrett, M., & Brunton-Smith, I. (2014). Political and civic engagement and participation: Towards an integrative perspective. Journal of Civil Society, 10. doi: 10.1080/17448689.2013.871911
Borna, E., Afrasiabi, H., Kalate Sadati, A., & Kermani, M. (2022). Women's Perception of Barriers and Facilitators of Success: A Grounded Theory Study. Woman in Development & Politics, 20(3), 501-527. doi: 10.22059/jwdp.2022.341812.1008198
Borna, E., Afrasiabi, H., Kalateh Sadati, A., & Gifford, W. (2022). Women’s perspectives on career successes and barriers: a qualitative meta-synthesis. Social Science Information, 61(2-3), 318-344.
Brown, N. E., Clark, C. J., & Mahoney, A. (2022). The Black Women of the US Congress: learning from descriptive data. Journal of Women, Politics & Policy43(3), 328-346.
DePoy, E., & Gitlin, L. (2005) Introduction to Research: Understanding and Applying Multiple Strategies. Michigan: Mosby.
Dyke, L.S., & Murphy, S.A. (2006). How we define success: A qualitative study of what matters most to women and men. Sex Roles, 55, 357–371.
Galligan, Y. (2012). The contextual and individual determinants of women’s civic engagement and political participation. The PIDOP Project.
Ghaderzadeh, O., & Rezazadeh, F. (2020). A Study of the Lived Experience and the Perception of Women from Participation in Civic Associations. Sociology of Social Institutions, 6(14), 63-96. doi: 10.22080/ssi.2020.15416.1535
Giddens, A. (2008). Modernity and individuality (N. Mofaghian, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Ney.
Giddens, A. (2015). Consequences of modernity (M. Solasi, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Center Publication.
González-Malabet, M. (2023). Women’s political participation through social movements and nongovernmental organizations: The case of Compromiso Ciudadano in Medellín, Colombia. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society30(1), 93-114.
Haddaji, M., Albors-Garrigós, J., & García-Segovia, P. (2017). Women chefs’ experience: Kitchen barriers and success factors. International Journal of Astronomy and Food Science, 9, 49–54.
Halim M. F., Barbieri, C., Morais, D. B., Jackes, S., & Seekamp, E. (2020) Beyond economic earnings: The holistic meaning of success for women in agritourism. Sustainability, 12(12), 1–16. doi: 10.3390/su12124907
Halim, M. F., Barbieri, C., Morais, D. B., Jakes, S., & Seekamp, E. (2020). Beyond economic earnings: The holistic meaning of success for women in agritourism. Sustainability, 12(12), 4907.
Hasunuma, L. (2019, January). Beyond formal representation: Case studies of women's participation in civil society in Japan. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 72, pp. 1-8). Pergamon.
Hibbs, L. (2022). (2022). “I could do that!”–The role of a women's non-governmental organisation in increasing women's psychological empowerment and civic participation in Wales (A. Shayesteh Moein, & M. Habibollahi Molazem, Trans.). Journal of Administrative Studies and Research, 4(14), 92-114.
Hibbs, L. (2022, January). “I could do that!”–The role of a women's non-governmental organisation in increasing women's psychological empowerment and civic participation in Wales. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 90, p. 102557). Pergamon.
Iheduru-Anderson, K., Okoro, F. O., & Moore, S. S. (2022). Diversity and Inclusion or Tokens? A Qualitative Study of Black Women Academic Nurse Leaders in the United States. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 9, 233339362110731. doi:10.1177/23333936211073116
Karimi, M, S., Khanzadi, A., & Cheshmaghil, M. (2017). Investigating the relationship between fertility, women's labor force participation and economic growth (comparative study of Iran and member countries of group 7). Iranian Journal of Sociology, 19(1), 149-171. doi: 10.22034/jsi.2018.36651
Karimzadeh, M., Fayzi, M. & Mirkazeh, F. (2016). Barriers to Baluch Women's Participation in Economic and Social Activities. Woman Cultural Psychology, 8(30), 59-73.
Keen, R., Cracknell, R. & Bolton, M. (2018). Women in Parliament and Government. House of Commons Briefing Paper. Available at: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN01250/SN01250.pdf
Kirkwood, J.J. (2016). How women and men business owners perceive success. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 22(5), 594–616.
Koekemoer, E., Olckers, C., & Nel, C. (2020). Work–family enrichment, job satisfaction, and work engagement: The mediating role of subjective career success. Australian Journal of Psychology, 72(4), 347–358.
Lari, N., Al-Ansari, M., & El-Maghraby, E. (2022). Challenging gender norms: women’s leadership, political authority, and autonomy. Gender in Management: An International Journal37(4), 476-493.
Latifi, S., Karimi, F. (2019). The relationship between glass ceiling with a sense of empowerment of female employees. Women and Family Studies, 12(45), 45-60.
Lerch, J. C., Schofer, E., Frank, D. J., Longhofer, W., Ramirez, F. O., Wotipka, C. M., & Velasco, K. (2022). Women’s participation and challenges to the liberal script: A global perspective. International Sociology37(3), 305-329.
Maddahi, J., Zare, B., Serajzadeh, S. H., & Karamhabibpour, K. (2021). The Problem of Celibacy: The Emerging Subject and New Life among Girls in Tehran. Journal of Social Problems of Iran, 12(1), 7-43. doi: 10.22059/ijsp.2021.84965
Maguire, S. (2018). Barriers to women entering parliament and local government. Bath: Institute for Policy Research.
Mahtabi, F. (2022). Statistical study of women's employment situation in Iran. the first International Conference on Educational Sciences, Psychology and Humanities.
McNeil, C., Roberts, C., & Snelling, C. (2017). Power to the people? Tackling the gender imbalance in combined authorities & local government (pp. 3–55). Retrieved from http://www.ippr.org/publications/power-to-the-people-tackling-gender-imbalance
Merriam, S. (2009). Qualitative Research: a Guide to Design and Implementation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Moeeni, S., & Tanaka, A. (2023). The effects of labor market opportunities on education: The case of a female hiring ceiling in Iran. Journal of Public Economics, 224, 104896.
Moinifar, H. S. (2012). Higher education of women in Iran: progress or problem? International Journal of Women's Research1(1), 43-60.
Molkara, M. (2019). The effect of the glass ceiling on the promotion of women's managerial status. Contemporary Researches in Science and Research, 2(17), 32-42.
Moosavand, M., Aeini, B., & Sabbar, S. (2020). Future of AI and human agency: A qualitative study. Journal of Cyberspace Studies4(2), 189-210. doi: 10.22059/jcss.2020.96575
Nazari, R. (2018). The Analysis of Glass Ceiling Effect on Improving the Management Position of Women in Sport Organizations in Isfahan Province. Sport Management Journal, 10(3), 477-465. doi: 10.22059/jsm.2019.108225.1205
Nazarian, Z., & Rabiee, A. (2013). An investigation into obstacles to entrepreneurship among educated women. Innovation & Creativity in Human Science, 2(4), 1-25.
Nosrati, S., Sarfi, M., & Moosavand, M. (2023). Liquid love and continuation of a new love order. Synesis, 16(1), 114-132.
Okere, C. P. O., & Omodu, N. S. (2023). Women leadership and community development in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Research and Development. 5(1), 38-45
Pamidimukkala, A., & Kermanshachi, S. (2023). Occupational Challenges of Women in Construction Industry: Development of Overcoming Strategies Using Delphi Technique. Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction15(1), 04522028.
Putnam, R. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of american community. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Putnam, R. (2010). Democracy and Civil Traditions (M.T. Delfrooz, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Salam Newspaper.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: the collapse and renival of American community. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Putnam, Robert (2014). Affluent society, social capital of public life (A. Khakbaz, & H. Pouyan, Trans.). Tehran, Iran: Shirazeh.
Rahbari, L. (2016). Women in higher education and academia in Iran. Sociology and Anthropology4(11), 1003-1010.
Reynolds AC, O’Mullan C, Pabel A, et al. (2018) Perceptions of success of women early career researchers. Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education 9(1), 2–18.
Rezai-Rashti, G. M., & Moghadam, V. M. (2011). Women and higher education in Iran: What are the implications for employment and the “marriage market”?. International Review of Education, 57, 419-441.
Sabzali, M., Darvishi, M., & Moosavand, M. (2024). Metaverse in Iran. Journal of Cyberspace Studies, 8(1), 121-144. doi:10.22059/jcss.2024.95894
Sadeghi Fassaei, S. & Khademi, A. (2015). Women’s employment in the last four decades studies: A meta-analysis. Journal of Woman in Culture and Arts, 7(2), 243-256. doi: 10.22059/jwica.2015.57578
Sadeghi Fassaei, S. & Khademi, A. (2015).Women’s employment in the last four decades studies: A meta-analysis. Journal of Woman in Culture Arts, 7(2), 243-256. doi: 10.22059/jwica.2015.57578
Sadeghi, S. (2013). Gender, culture and learning: Iranian immigrant women in Canadian higher education. In Women, War, Violence and Learning (pp. 91-108). Routledge.
Saeed, A., Riaz, H., & Baloch, M. S. (2022). Institutional voids, liability of origin, and presence of women in TMT of emerging market multinationals. International Business Review31(4), 101941.
Tabebordbar, F., Kamani, S., & Manochehri, B. (2016). Studying the Relationship between Women's Glass Ceiling Beliefs and Subjective Success among Female Employees at Shiraz Municipality. Quarterly Journal of Woman and Society, 6(24), 125-144.
Tsakalerou, M., Perveen, A., Ayapbergenov, A., Rysbekova, A., & Bakytzhanuly, A. (2022, April). Understanding the Factors Influencing Women’s Career Trajectories in STEM Education in Kazakhstan. In International Conference on Gender Research, 5(1), 230-239.
Walker, A., and Kulkarni, K. G. (2021). Role of women in economic development: A comparison of the development trajectories in Ethiopia and Uganda. The Journal of developing areas, 55(2), 387–396. doi: 10.1353/jda.2021.0026
Women and Equalities Committee. (2017). Implementation of sustainable development goal 5 in the UK. London: House of Commons.
Zahedifar, E. (2012). Women in Higher Education in Iran: Student perceptions of career prosperity in the labour market (Master's thesis).
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
Summer 2023
Summer 2023
Pages 39-68

  • Receive Date 23 January 2023
  • Revise Date 09 May 2023
  • Accept Date 09 June 2024