Obstacles of Female Participation in Social Development

Even though women’s participation is a needed factor of development, Share of Iranian women in economic activities and political decision making is significantly low. The important question in this regard is what are the factors and barriers in both micro and macro levels which have caused the permanent gender inequality in Iran? Based on social development theory by Chalaby and available official statistical data, in micro level, gender socialization, gender spaces, type of female social network, difficulties in women mobility (physical, occupational, accommodational), restriction of social opportunities (opportunities in education, occupation, associational relationships), and lack of strategic consensus of elites are barriers of development and progress of women’s character advancement. In macro level disorders in normative and symbolic dimensions of social structure do not provide the context for women’s participation in development process.