A Clarification of the Role of Rural Women's Participation in Rural Development (A Case Study of Shavour District) in Shoush County

Nowadays, women's participation in rural sustainable development is notconsidered as an optional issue, but a necessity. The societies downgrading the need for women's participation have faced failures, cuausing delay in sustainable development and the meeting of social security as well as social welfare. This applied research was aimed at clarifying the role of rural women's participation in rural sustainable development. It was conducted in Shavour rural district of Susa city using scaling-descriptive method. Due to differences in social and cultural features of villages under study, choosing samples was done through Stratified Sampling with probability proportionate method. In order to collect data, a researcher made questionnaire was designed the validity of which was confirmed by expert views and reliability of its questions confirmed through a Pilot study.Data analysis was performed through SPSS software. Correlation studies results showed a significant positive relationship between age vs. size of family and participation rate in economic activity with a 99% of probability. There was also a meaningful negative relationship observed between level of education and participation rate in economic activity with 99% of probability. Research findings indicated that, compared with to other activities, women more participation in productive activities related to handicrafts (Kapoo-bafi,...) the main reason for which could be the possiblity of performing these activities at home together with carrying out their housekeeping duties. Dissapointedly their presence in such social and cultural activities as in decision-making centers like village Islamic council or their cooperation with village state (Dehyari) was far from desirable conditions wich needs more work on the culture and on the creation of the necessary background as well as context for increasing the women's active participation and social influence. Finally, more recommendations (to increase rural women's participation in rural sustainable development programs) are put forward.