Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Iranian handmade carpets are a cultural and economic commodity and one of the most valuable non-oil products that has provided employment for activists in this field throughout the ages. Weavers are the main link in the handmade carpet production cycle. More than seventy percent of Iranian carpet weavers are women in urban and rural areas. The carpet weaving industry of the city of Takab in West Azerbaijan Province, with the global registration of "Iron Carpets" in WIPO and an annual production history of about 15,000 square meters of handmade carpets, is one of the rare examples of Iranian carpets that has faced a decrease in the participation of women carpet weavers in production in recent years. For sustainable employment in carpet production, it is essential to create protective insurance coverage and continuity of insurance. Continuous implementation of macro policies in the management of protective insurance for employees in this sector is essential.
Methodology: This is a mixed study (quantitative and qualitative). The statistical population of the research is 300 women members of the Takab Carpet Weaving Union who had insurance and a registered history in that unit in 1403. Based on the Cochran formula, the statistical sample of the study was 168 people. The systematic sampling method was systematic. The research tool was a standardized and previously tested researcher-made questionnaire, which showed a high coefficient of validity of the questionnaires for the continuation of the study.
Findings: After analyzing the questionnaires with the help of SPSS and hypothesis testing, which was carried out with two descriptive and inferential statistical methods, we found that there is a negative and inverse relationship between weak management and policy-making. There is also a negative and inverse relationship between the improper functioning of insurance and financial services and women's participation in the carpet weaving industry. There is a positive and direct relationship between the subcomponents of age, income, carpet weaving history and women's participation in the carpet weaving industry. There was a significant difference between the subcomponent of job status and women's participation in the carpet weaving industry.
Conclusion: The findings of the study led us to the conclusion that the factors affecting the decline in the participation of women in Takab carpet weaving are more at the macro-level of management and policy-making than at the individual and regional level. It seems that the lack of continuous insurance for women weavers is one of the reasons for the withdrawal of weavers from the production cycle of this industry. Comprehensive and sustainable insurance services as part of the supportive approach of policymakers can be helpful. The results showed that with legislation, management assistance in providing appropriate insurance and financial services, women's participation in the handmade carpet production cycle can be increased. The conditions for the weavers' job survival have improved and in the long run, it is likely to benefit the regional carpet weaving industry and women carpet weavers. The hand-woven carpet industry, as an indigenous Iranian industry that simultaneously represents the authenticity of Iranian culture, art, and economy, today faces obstacles and challenges for growth and development. A vast majority of the workforce in this industry are women. This study exclusively focuses on female carpet weavers as the central link in the production chain of this product. In the theory of social comparison processes, individuals evaluate their own position in relation to the positions of others. This comparison is assessed in terms of inputs (what the individual contributes to the environment) and outputs (what they receive in terms of rights, benefits, social relationships, and reputation). The findings of this study, in comparison with previous research and the obtained variables, indicate that the inputs of women as carpet weavers include producing valuable products with global credibility and quality. In this context, marital status and income also serve as driving forces for women's carpet weaving activities. However, the outputs for this group—such as comprehensive policies for continuous support through adequate insurance and appropriate social rights—are not proportionate to each other. Today, a gender-sensitive approach plays a significant role in improving quality and enhancing development plans. It seems that most of the previously enacted economic support laws were gender-neutral and were designed and implemented solely with an economic and financial approach to promote and sustain production themes. To improve and elevate the current conditions, it is better to address the existing gaps in this field by conducting qualitative field research and focusing on studies centered on gender and carpet weaving. Efforts should be made to raise awareness among female carpet weavers about support laws and regulations, streamline bureaucratic processes, and develop and diversify specialized insurance for carpet weavers to change the attitudes of female weavers toward support programs.
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