An Assessment of the Economic and Social Ability of Female Rural Rug Makers (Case study: Hamedan Province)

This study evaluates the economic and social power of rural women in Hamadan who manufacture rugs and factors affecting it. Survey method was applied through questionnaires to conduct the research. 404 female rug makers were selected from Hamedan province based on Krejcie & Morgan table. The results suggest that social ability mean of female rug weavers is higher than their economic potency. The results of regression analysis also showed that the variables of handmade rug’s size, availability of materials and tools of rug making, the level of related technical knowledge, and rug weaving time length during a day are among the most important factors of rural women’s economic ability which defines 42 percent of variance of their economic ability. Regarding social potency, the variables of job satisfaction, economic ability, level of related technical knowledge, and level of education explicate 43 percent of the variables of social ability. Considering the results of this research, strengthening the indicators affecting economic and social power of female rug makers especially indicators of availability of materials and tools of rug making, and related technical knowledge of rug making through holding courses to empower them is necessary.