Identifying the Network of Subjects Related to Women's Employment in Rural Handicraft Industries

A B S T R A C T
Various handicraft capacities in different villages in the country have provided a basis for easier and more accessible employment for women. Therefore, the current research aimed to identify the barriers and capacities of this field from the perspective of women active in rural handicrafts in the country. The current research is qualitative. Sampling (16 people) among the target population of female entrepreneurs and workers in the field of handicrafts in the country was started in a purposeful-available manner, and the snowball method was continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. The text of the interviews was coded using the thematic analysis method and MAXQDA 2020. A total of 71 codes, 31 basic themes, 12 organizing themes, and three overarching themes were identified. Three overarching themes have been identified, including the capacity of employment in handicrafts for women (including the organizing themes of the specific capacities of handicrafts, the effects of employment in handicrafts, and the support of others for women's employment), obstacles to women's employment in handicrafts (including the organizing themes of obstacles social, family, government, product and tourism market, financial, and skill barriers), and proposals for women's employment in handicrafts (including organizing themes of macro-level, business-level, and individual-level proposals). The findings can be used for better policy-making in line with women's employment in rural handicrafts and to improve women's performance in this field.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Women's empowerment in rural handicrafts is a pivotal force in fostering economic growth and sustainable development, yet it remains an underexplored territory in research. This study endeavors to bridge this critical gap by delving deeply into the challenges and opportunities women actively engaged in rural handicraft enterprises face, shedding light on their experiences, barriers, and aspirations.
 
Methodology
Embarking on a meticulous methodological journey, this study adopted a purposive sampling approach, zeroing in on 16 female entrepreneurs who play pivotal roles in the rural handicraft sector. Through in-depth interviews and rigorous data analysis facilitated by the MAXQDA 2020 software, a rich tapestry of insights and narratives emerged, culminating in the extraction of 71 distinct codes that encapsulated the essence of women's experiences in this domain.
 
Results and discussion
The results of the study indicate that women in rural handicrafts face a number of challenges, including a lack of social, family, government, product and marketing, financial, and skill barriers. However, women in this sector also possess several strengths, including capacities related to handicrafts, supporting others, and employment effects. Based on the findings, the study identifies several recommendations for empowering women in this sector, including suggestions at different macro, business, and individual levels. Specifically, the findings reveal that women in rural handicrafts often face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in the industry. These barriers include:

Social barriers: These include barriers related to village culture and gender. Slandering rural people is caused by the closed environment of the village, and things like not taking women seriously, inappropriate treatment of colleagues, looking down on men, and gender discrimination are among the things related to this category.
Family barriers: These include men's opposition to women's employment, lack of family support, and household responsibilities.
Government barriers: Inefficiency of the loan process is a government obstacle.
Product and marketing barriers: These include the non-use of handicrafts, the abuse of dealers, and the lack of buyers for handicrafts.
Financial barriers: Financial obstacles for handicraft artists include the cost of attending exhibitions, difficulties obtaining raw materials, the long duration of the cold return period, and the high cost of handicrafts.
Skill barriers: Skill barriers for women active in rural handicrafts include the lack of up-to-date handicraft training.

Despite these challenges, women in rural handicrafts also possess several strengths that can be leveraged to support their success. These strengths include the following.

Capacities related to handicrafts: Key concepts related to handicraft capacities, such as access to raw materials, the variety of handicrafts in different provinces, the possibility of creating practical products with handicraft skills, familiarity with handicrafts from childhood, and providing training in handicrafts, were identified.
Supporting others: Supporting others includes supporting the family and respecting women.
Employment effects: According to interviewees, the effects of employment in handicrafts include generating income for women and increasing their social participation.

Based on these findings, this study recommends several steps that can be taken to empower women in rural handicrafts at different levels:

Macro level: This is related to the kind of support that government organizations and institutions can provide to encourage the employment of women in the field of handicrafts. These proposals can be categorized into three areas: marketing and sales, advisory, and media.
Business level: At the business level, two categories of cooperation can be proposed as paying attention to the market and the customer and starting a family business. The cooperation category refers to paying attention to cooperation and empathy with other activists. Paying attention to the market and customers in the form of topics such as paying attention to local capacities and providing functional products, providing new, creative works that are in line with customer needs, recognizing the needs and tastes of the market, branding handicrafts, and making handicrafts practical should be included in the employment of women in the field. Therefore, handicrafts should also be considered.
Individual level: At the individual level, increasing self-confidence is key.

By adopting these steps, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment for women in rural handicrafts. This will help ensure that women can participate in the industry on an equal footing with men and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
Transitioning into the discussion phase, this study amplifies the implications of the findings, unraveling the policy implications and support mechanisms necessary for creating an enabling environment for women in rural handicraft employment. By advocating for gender-responsive policies and targeted interventions, this study seeks to pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering landscape for women artisans and entrepreneurs.
 
Conclusion
In summary, this study serves as a beacon of hope and progress, illuminating the way forward for women's economic empowerment through rural handicrafts. By unpacking the nuances of women's experiences, challenges, and opportunities in this sector, this study lays the groundwork for transformative change, forging a path toward a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient future for women artisans in rural communities.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.