Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Author

• Ahmad Hajarian

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Civil participation ethnic groups plays a significant role in demolishing social classifications. In this regard, in the present research, an attempt has been made to study the civil participation of Bakhtiari women according to the opinions of experts.
Women's civil participation provides broad growth grounds in the development process and they solve the problems and problems of societies in economic and social fields through cooperation and shared efforts. Despite the development and expansion of various aspects of social fields, civil participation among Bakhtiari women still does not have a worthy position. In this research, using the method of thematic analysis, the platforms for the reorganization of the civil participation of Bakhtiari women were identified. The research is based on the purpose of the applied type and in terms of the nature of the data, it is of the qualitative type and the statistical sample is 12 Bakhtiari women who have expertise and experience in this field. Information was collected based on semi-structured interviews and the study of sources and documents. The findings show that among 76 open codes, 29 basic concepts were identified, which can be divided into 7 categories of organizing themes. The results of the analysis indicate that in rearranging and renewing the factors affecting the civil participation of Bakhtiari women, attention should be paid to their empowerment and attention to justice and equality in the social structure and the need to achieve the goals of policies and structures. It developed a field of social participation for women.

Highlights

Background and purpose

Based on the available information within the examined society, it is evident that Bakhtiari women encounter numerous challenges in various domains when it comes to their level of civil partnership, in contrast to the Kurdish, Baloch, and Turkish ethnic groups. Despite the presence of positive cultural markers, such as increased levels of education, it is evident that there exists a substantial gap in women's involvement within many social domains, including both formal and informal spheres.

The current issue at hand relates to the recent decades, during which there has been a simultaneous transformation of the political system following the Islamic revolution and a shift in political leaders' perspectives regarding women's involvement in civil affairs. Despite the social and political advancements, such as the implementation of development programs and the notable increase in educational attainment in Kurdistan, as well as the rise in women's political engagement in this region, available evidence and indications suggest that civil partnership, particularly in relation to overall participation, has not experienced significant growth (Romina & Sadeghi, 2015). Consequently, a comprehensive and satisfactory portrayal of the situation is lacking for observers.

Based on the aforementioned introduction and the existing body of research in the domain of women's civil partnership, which predominantly adopts a quantitative methodology and relies on stakeholder perspectives, it is deemed necessary to undertake a qualitative study among Bakhtiari women that incorporates the insights and expertise of relevant professionals. Consequently, this study aims to present a framework for the civic engagement of Bakhtiari women based on the perspectives of experts and professionals. Consequently, this study aims to answer the question, "What are the contributing factors in the development of Bakhtiari women's civil partnership?"

Method

The present investigation is a fundamental inquiry characterized by its qualitative approach and utilization of the thematic analysis method. The process of data collection was conducted in the year 2022. The duration of the interview ranged from 20 to 45 minutes. During the interview, inquiries were made regarding the presence of ethnic social stratifications and the level of Bakhtiari women's involvement in civil society.

The target population is comprised of politically and socially prominent Bakhtiari women. In other words, they appear to have more and broader knowledge about the topic of the study. Professors of higher education are among them. The participants were selected using a purposive sampling method.

In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 specialized academics of Shahrekord University provided the research data. Of these 12 participants, 9 participants were women, 3 participants were males, 10 participants held doctoral degrees while 2 participants held master's degrees. Due to the data saturation reached by in-depth analysis, the sufficiency of the obtained codes, and the absence of new codes in subsequent interviews, the code extraction was discontinued. In fact, the interview is the primary research method. By coding these interviews, analyzing each one, and using purposive sampling and introduction of the next expert by each interviewee, we proceeded to the next participant. This procedure served as the premise for selecting the next expert, and by achieving the desired outcomes, the interview was concluded.

Results

The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach, wherein the primary themes were determined in order to examine the civil partnership of Bakhtiari women. A comprehensive examination of the data through thematic analysis resulted in the identification of a total of 26 fundamental concepts that serve as the basis of the study model. As organizational themes for the research problem, these concepts have been categorized into seven groups: contextual factors, motivational factors, responsibility, justice and equality, cultural factors, and management factors.

• The contextual factors covered various concepts, including age, marital status, economic and well-being status, as well as kinship and clan ties.
• Motivational factors included various concepts, including understanding and empathy, upward social mobility, confidence, and the influence of exemplary individuals (role modelling).
• The theme of responsibility includes various interconnected concepts, such as a deep sense of belonging, firm faith and understanding, and heightened awareness.
• The theme of social status encompasses multiple factors, including education, the stability of one's residence, social position, and the breadth of one's social ties.
• The concept of justice included concepts like meritocracy, socialization beyond gender, equitable distribution, amount of access, and the absence of class socialization.
• The cultural theme encompasses various elements, including ethnic affinities, religious concepts, and historical and cultural origins.
• The management theme encompasses different concepts, including management methods, futuristic thinking, and the level of development.

Conclusion

The significance and sensitivity of women's involvement in fostering the social and economic efforts of local ethnic communities cannot be overstated. The proficiency and aptitude of women in engaging in civil partnerships have the potential to contribute to the progress and elevation of society in the era of knowledge. The objective of the present study was to analyze and reorganize the civic engagement of Bakhtiari women while also investigating the barriers and achievements associated with this phenomenon. This study employed the content analysis methodology and incorporated the perspectives of 12 knowledgeable specialists who have sufficient expertise in the relevant domain. A total of 26 fundamental concepts were selected as the foundation of the study model based on the thematic analysis of the data, which yielded 76 identified basic concepts. The research issue was organized into seven groups: contextual, motivational, responsibility, justice, social situation, cultural, and managerial factors. Paying attention to contextual factors indicates systematic thinking in participation, as participation involves a combination of interconnected processes. Contextual factors refer to the various systems that influence the orientation of civil partnerships. Contextual factors reflect the overall perspective on decision-making positions. They encompass these factors' patterns, relationships, integration, information flow, hierarchy, and positioning. Hence, given its significance, the lack of observed progress in the civic engagement of women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including the Bakhtiari community, may be attributed, at least in part, to the underlying obstacles within the existing framework that necessitate immediate attention and elimination.

Ethical Considerations 

Compliance with ethical guidelines

The current study has been conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines for conducting research involving human subjects.

Funding: This study received no financial support from the organization or any other person.

Authors' contribution: The primary author takes responsibility for authoring the article's written content.

Conflict of interest: The author declared no conflict of interest with any person or organization.

Acknowledgements: The researcher expresses gratitude towards all research participants who have collaborated in the collection of research data.

Data Availability: Data supporting this study are openly available  at (DOI.10.22051/jwfs.2024.43421.2969)

Keywords

• Civic participation
• justice and gender equality
• Bakhtiari women
• theme analysis

Main Subjects

• women law