Female Empowerment and Time Use of Urban Women in Iran

This research project offers a descriptive account of the changes Iranian families have experienced and have influenced women’s empowerment within the family. The study describes changes in the age and education gaps between spouses, women’s childbearing and market work, and availability of household appliances. The study aims to understand the pattern of women’s time allocation, specifically labor market participation vs. childcare and housework. The results are expected to shed light on the question of whether low labor market participation following the decline in fertility is the result of greater involvement of women in their children’s education, which is consistent with increased empowerment, or if it results from more housework and/or leisure.