IMPACT OF CULTURAL FACTORS ON WOMEN’S ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN

Abstract

Women have to face many social, cultural, and financial challenges when getting involved in economic activities. The current study was organized to determine the impact of socio-cultural and economic factors on women’s economic involvement. This quantitative study was carried out in Jalalabad, a city in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. All employed and unemployed women in this area made up the total population of the study. A sample of 400 women was taken conveniently, of which 256 were employed and 125 were unemployed. The data of 19 respondents was found to be unsuitable for analysis because of missing data. The data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire, which comprised 27 items to investigate women’s lack of educational opportunities (LEO), social problems (SP), familial problems (FP), and economic engagement (EE). Based on the research hypotheses, two different statistical tests were employed. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable. In addition, an independent sample t-test was executed to identify the difference in perception between employed and unemployed women. In terms of results, the study found a significant impact of LEO, SP, and FP on women’s economic engagement. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was found between employed and unemployed women based on their perceptions regarding LEO, SP, FP, and EE. In conclusion, the study found a significant impact of social, cultural, and economic factors on Afghan women’s economic engagement. Policymakers and other stakeholders may recognize the intricate connections between women’s economic engagement, family difficulties, and educational opportunities in order to develop policies that completely address these interconnected issues.