The Impact of Gender, Ethnic, and Livelihood Structures on the Participation of Zagros Women in Sustainable Tourism

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Hasanreza Yosofvand: Department of Sociology, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran Corresponding Author

10.22034/sls.2025.68589.1566

Abstract

This study, using a mixed-methods approach and exploratory design, examines the impact of gender, ethnic, and livelihood structures on the participation of Zagros women in sustainable tourism development in the provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, Hamedan, and West Azerbaijan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 experts and questionnaires completed by 55 tourism practitioners between the second half of 2022 and the second half of 2023. Analyses using Interpretive Structural Modeling and thematic analysis showed that gender inequality, lack of tourism infrastructure, and absence of government support are the main barriers to women’s participation. Conversely, women’s indigenous knowledge and their social capital provide empowerment opportunities. Ethnic identity in Kurdish and Lur communities plays a dual role: cultural attractions draw tourists while traditional norms impose restrictions on women. The intersectionality and sustainable livelihood theoretical frameworks offered a multilayered analysis of these factors. The findings emphasize the necessity of gender-sensitive policies, infrastructure development, and entrepreneurship training. Limitations such as small sample size and the cross-sectional nature of the study restrict generalizability; however, the proposed framework can be applied in future research on multiethnic and indigenous communities.

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References

 
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Journal of Sociology of Lifestyle (SLS)
Volume 11, Issue 1
May 2026
Pages 29-58

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 18 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 21 April 2026

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