Effective Factors in Social Participation of Females in the Contemporary Society of Iran

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors which affect females' social participation in the contemporary society of Iran (Ardabil province). The population of this study included women above 18, in 2010. The participants were chosen by using cluster sampling. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among 409 women. This study was of survey type. The results showed that the mean of civil participation of females was the lowest and the mean of their religious participation was the highest. The order of females' participation level from high to low was: 1- religious participation 2- revolutionary participation 3- cultural-recreational participation 4- local participation 5- supportive participation 6- civil participation. According to the findings, the mean of social participation of females was of relatively low level. Additionally their participations revolved around traditional participation. In this study social participation was a function of activity condition, occupational group, years of service, work experience and monthly income. Furthermore the level of self-efficacy and self-confidence, political awareness, access to media and the amount of meeting women's expectations from society were factors which promoted the level of their social participation.