Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological
Year:2011 | Volume:9 | Issue:1 (27)|Papers Count:7

The current study aims to compare gender differences in self-efficacy, achievement goals, task value, cognitive engagement and mathematics achievement of high school students studying at the third grade of high school (in mathematics) in the city of Mahabad. We analyzed data obtained from 280 students (of whom 113 were girls and 167 were boys). Instruments used to measure the variables of the study were Midgley and Middleton Math Self-efficacy Questionnaire (1997), Achievement Goals Scale (Midgley, et.al, 2000), Kember, et.al (2004), Superficial and Deep Strategies Subscale and Task Value Subscale (Pintritch, et.al, 1991). Results indicated girls scored higher in mastery goals, task value and math achievement compared to boys, but there were no significant gender differences regarding performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals. In addition, Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed while boys were more likely to use superficial strategies, there was no significant difference between boys and girls on their usage of deep strategies.

Unlike the global trends, there is a low rate for women participating in the labor market of Iran. Making decision on retirement and the willingness to work after the middle age are among important factors influencing women's participation in the labor market. This paper examines factors affecting retirement and participation of the elderly women in the labor market of Tehran. This is a survey-research study.Based on the results of cross-sectional data analysis of Tehran in 2008, over 55 percent of women in the statistical sample had retired early and nearly 20 percent of them had been re-employed after retirement. The participation rate of women in retirement and in the old age period is very low. Based on Logit regression model, higher the retirement age of women lower the chance of their post-retirement participation in the labor market. In other words, for women in contrast with men it is more desirable to retire early and leave the labor market. Women’s illness or those of their husbands have increases the possibility of women’s leaving the labor market. On the other hand, women with higher education and expertise wish to stay longer in the labor market during their mid-age years and thereafter. Moreover, being married and considering the rise in living expenses increase the likelihood of women’s participation in the labor market.

Social sustainability is among the important dimensions of sustainable development as it consists of various and extensive aspects of sustainable development. Thus studying social sustainability of rural women is a prominent subject in the process of establishing socially sustainable development since it can illuminate women’s social situation, putting emphasis on their role in the process of development. Through quantitative paradigm, and systematic approach, this research aims to determine, codify and classify rural women’s social sustainability indicators. To do this, we have reviewed literature on social sustainability, prepared questionnaire and decided on the level of rural women sustainability in different districts based on Morris model, to define social sustainability status of rural women in Sonqor County. Statistical population of this research consists of rural women (15 to 60 years old) of Sonqor county (N=21530). According to the findings, the social status of rural women is not sustainable in any of the eight districts of Sonqor County. In six districts the social statuses of rural women are semi-sustainable, and in other two districts they are unsustainable.

Body weight dissatisfaction is a common discontent among women. Such women are more likely to be susceptible to intrapersonal and interpersonal problems. In the diagnostic process, leading to factors that may contribute to this problem we must consider psychological factors prior to socio-cultural ones. The aim of the present study is to determine general health of women and explore the possibility of any relationship between body image and coping strategies with weight dissatisfaction among them. The sample of this study consists of 61 women with weight dissatisfaction, selected via convenience sampling method. The instruments employed in this study are General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOCQ), and Multidimensional Body Self Relation Questionnaire (MBSRQ). We have analyzed data with one-sample T test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression method. The results have shown that general health in these women is lower than minimum score of mental health. These women use emotion-focused coping strategies more than problem-focused ones. There is a negative relationship between body image and general health. Body image predict %57 of weight dissatisfaction variance by itself (p<0.001). Our results support the importance of body image in weight dissatisfaction.

This is a study on the concept of social trust, a concept that has recently been enjoying an increasing vogue, yet it is not explored enough as far as women’s issues are concerned. Most sociological theorists attribute importance to the role of interactions and relations in establishing trust, and believe that alongside these factors trust finds its true meaning, and can be developed and reinforced.  Discussing women’s social trust, limitations on their social relations cannot be ignored. The Iranian patriarchal culture intertwined with prejudiced values, views women as representing dignity and honor of the family and men’s reputation. Therefore, through imposing several restrictions, men try to control women’s behavior as being in line with men’s mindset. Thus, such a system restricts women’s social relationships and prevents their presence in different social circles.In this research we study the role and impact of various factors, such as level and types of women's relations, fundamental trust and powerlessness feeling in respect to the social trust. We have conducted a survey with a statistical sample of 290 married women who lived in districts 3 and 16 of Tehran.  Results indicate a significant correlation between level and types of women's relations, fundamental trust, and powerlessness feeling with women’s social trust.

Employability defined as one’s ability to identify and realize occupational opportunities within and among organizations over the course of a career, is a critical determinant of individual success in today’s turbulent work environment with flexible and temporary contracts. Employability enables employees to optimize career opportunities and to manage their own careers.Many researchers have studied employability, yet little attention is paid to the gender factor. This article explains the dimensions and indices of employability, and then conducts a survey on difference of employability between women and men employees in public organizations.The result of research indicates that, in spite of different situations of men and women in organizations, there is no difference between men and women's employability in public organizations.

The cultural changes continuously take place in the developed countries as they pass from traditional patterns and ideas that constitute their identity gradually and take steps toward the modern patterns. In transient societies, however, the existing traditional culture has to encounter some aspects of ultra-industrial culture and civilization. The speed of change in these societies makes people look for new forms of individuality. This is especially true of adolescent girls, who try to achieve their aim of seeking an answer to questions as who they are and their identity, with new forms of individuality patterns. They find out that their subordinated roles and identities result from cultural sources not natural ones. Therefore, by seeking help from multiplicity of identity sources, they make an effort to acquire new and developing patterns of identity by utilizing these multiplicities of identity sources. In this article we have aimed to determine a kind of modern identity pattern of girls (low, mean and high) by dividing the non-traditional developing identity pattern to six elements that involve modern and traditional indexes. by considering the independent variables as parents' social-economical statues, level of dividing gender roles in houses, rate of media usage, rate of communication with the same age groups, rate of conceptual interactions among the family members, level of religious beliefs and also egalitarian approach to women's position in the society, the present study explores the effect of such factors on forming the developing identity patterns. It is necessary to mention that this study is a measuring type.  We selected the statistical samples by multi-stage technique and collected data through the questionnaire. The results show that most girls have a low developing identity pattern. Among variables influencing formation of identity pattern, the following had the most effects in structuring modern developing identity in adolescent girls: level of egalitarian approach, rate of media usage, and rate of conceptual interactions within the family members.