Identification of Economic Empowerment Facilitators of Rural Women(A case on members of rural women's Micro-Credit Funds in the province of Semnan)

The purpose of this research was identification of Economic Empowerment Facilitators of economic empowerment among rural women. The statistical population of the study consisted of all members of rural women's Micro-Credit Funds in the province of Semnan that 112 of them were selected according to Cochran formula as sample size. This research was a survey and a researcher-made questionnaire was employed to data collection. Reliability of the questionnaire by calculating Cranach's alpha (α= 0.939) and validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by four experts of Institute of agricultural education and extension. The results of ranking the determinants of economic empowerment of rural women showed," Trust in your ability to do things", " Motivation and desire to earn money by myself ", "Membership in rural women's microfinance fund", in the first to third ranks and there are the most important factors of the economic empowerment of rural women in Semnan province. Also, according to the results of exploratory factor analysis the most important factors affecting the economic empowerment of rural women in Semnan province were classified into six factors: 1- Cultural context of rural community, 2- Participation in social and educational activities, 3- Economic and and households participations, 4- Tangible and intangible assets, 5- Family support and 6- The spirit of financial independence. In total, these factors could explain 65.76% of the total variance.