Socio-Economic and Cultural Condition of Women-Headed Households in Mazandaran Province

Undoubtable, the current condition of the Women-headed Households in Iran and the world is dependent to the numerous economic, social, cultural, instructional and welfare factors. With regard to the importance of Women-headed Household's role in the society, this study has addressed the problems of these Women in Mazandaran province, aiming to provide some methods for lessening their problems in the society. The procedure of the research is survey method and its statistical population is the Women-headed Households in Mazandaran province. The sample size is determined 2792 people, using Cochran formula. Using statistical tests of Q-Type Factor Analysis and also Freidman's non-parametric test, this study has provided new grouping and priority of the affecting factors and components on the condition of the Women-headed Households. The results of the Factor Analysis test show that these factors, according to priority, Were of the most affecting Components and factors on the condition of these Women in Mazandaran province: Social, cultural and instructional condition: 19.16%, economic status (employment): 14.72%, self-confidence-Self-reliance (entrepreneurship) factor: 13.06% and welfare condition: 12.46%. On the other hand, Also, in order to rank the main factors & indices affecting the problems of the women headed households; Freidman's non-parametric test has been used. The results show that with 0.99 insurance and the error less than 0.01, there is a meaningful statistical difference among every one of the main factors and indices affecting the problems of the women-headed households. The mean grade of social, cultural and instructional factor (5.1), the factor of economic status (4.9), the factor of self-confidence, self reliance or entrepreneurship (3.8) and the factor of welfare condition (3.1), according to the priority, show notable effect & share of the abovementioned factors and indices to the current condition of the women-headed household in the province. As we note in the results & findings of the research, the social, cultural and instructional problems of the women-headed households, according to the importance, were in the 1st place among all the problems of the women-headed households. So we can conclude that we will never see a healthy and intact society unless we construct a proper cultural & social ground in the society on the other hand, the element and item of education of different dimensions (theoretical & skilled) has been ignored among the women-headed households and / or the measures by the related foundations & organizations have been low and periodical. So, the basis of all economic discussions & problems of the women-headed households related to their lack of self-confidence and the primary teachings (whether formal or informal). In this way the results showed that low self-confidence and lack of self-believing among the women-headed households has led to the fact that their economic dependence to their husbands make very improper economic conditions after self-heading and thus they do not have relations with any kind of department and organization, do not have the primary power & capital for entrepreneurship & even they do not have the necessary power & spirit for entrepreneurship.The welfare factor as the 4th factor also shows that the women-headed households regarding to the primary requirements of the life have been in the worst possible conditions. In a way that they do not have proper financial & food conditions and because of the lack of financial afford, their children do not have access to the most of the necessary formal & informal teaching. Even some of the women-headed households because of being unaware of the law cases, are forced to work in the worst condition and/or have been engaged to some low in come works in home without any kind of support by the related organizations and foundations.