Influential Factors on Couple's Relationship among Rural Families

This study examines women's employment status, financial power and gender attitudes in their marital relationship from the point of decision making and household division of labor amongst rural families of Tehran province. Women's employment, financial power and gender attitudes have created new functional necessities in gender division of household roles and consequently on couple's relationship thus challenging the traditional system dominating couple's relationship. In line with this proposition, this research analyses the aforementioned variables as well as background variables on couple's relationship. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of women's employment (paramedic women), financial power and gender attitude on couple's relationship concerning decision making and household division of labor amongst rural families of Tehran Province. Few studies consider the changes in marital relationships in rural areas as a result of changes in family’s economic structure and women’s employment in new occupations. Paramedic (Behvarzi) is one of the new occupations in rural areas. The research is conducted using survey method, while the information is gathered through a questionnaire. The sample size is 400 and consists of rural women, both employed (paramedics) and housewives. Multistage cluster sampling technique is used to gather data. Findings show that marital relationships among employed women (paramedics) are different from that of housewives due to their different employment status and their interaction with outside world. The results also indicate that employed women’s financial power and their different attitudes increase their chance to receive help from their spouse. They also have a greater role in family’s decision-makings.