Women's view on women's employment: the case of Afghan migrants in Mashad/Iran

Sajede Vaezzade, Jahad-e Daneshgahi

According to religion and tradition, men in Afghanistan are responsible for their families regardless of their wives economic position. As in most societies, female roles in Afghanistan stress motherhood, child socialization and family nurturing. Additionally in settled rural families, women participate in agriculture work, dairy products and handicrafts. A new condition for Afghan migrants in Iran has made the situation quite different. Most of the female members of the family have to work inside or outside home, while males are restricted by the State to have job. This study was set up to explore women's perception of their new roles. The study indicated that women still view their role traditional. Through working, they neither explore improvement of their social status, nor expect economic self- reliance from their husbands.