Microcredits: Social Empowering or Disempowering of Rural Women: The Case of Nahavand Township

The impacts of how to use microcredits on social empowering or disempowering of rural women was the purpose of this study. The statistical population consisted of 200 women in Nahavand Township who have received microcredits during 2010- 2014. Sample size was determined according to Krejcie and Morgan Table and 127 individuals were selected based on stratified sampling with proportional assignment. Questionnaire's reliability and validity were confirmed through computing Cronbach's alpha coefficient (more than 0.7) and content validity, respectively. Data was analyzed by SPSS20 software. The results showed that the use of credit in the fields of 1) Livestock, poultry, beekeeping, turkey, fisheries, and 2) Planting of saffron, mushroom and medicinal plants as well as horticulture had a direct and significant effect on the social empowerment of rural women. But, the credit use in the fields of: 1) Carpet weaving, sewing and artistic activities; 2) Treatment and health; 3) Self-education and children training; 4) Shop keeping had no relationship with the social empowerment of rural women. According to the results, it is suggested that microcredits by the banks and other financial institutes have assigned to those activities which has significant relationship with rural women empowerment.