Comparative Study of Factors Affecting Men and Women Political Passivity

In this research, factors affecting Iranian women political indifference and passivity have been studied using Robert Dahl and Martin Lipset theories. For data collection and analysis a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods as well as purposive sampling were employed. Subjects were selected from among men and women who had academic degrees and jobs and resided in Tehran. Based on the findings of the study, feelings of political ineffectiveness and economic problems were the main reasons for political passivity of the individuals. Furthermore, women political passivity outperformed that of men. Regardless of psychological and economic factors, this might be due to gender-related stereotypes and attitudes towards women's roles. In addition, the findings of the study indicate the low rate of political awareness and self-confidence of the women in comparison to men, and their lesser degree of utilization of modern technological means of information and communication. The political participation of the youth was also lower than middle-aged individuals; however, education level was not seen to be at work in the subject's political activity or passivity.