Contribution of NGO's functions to Empowerment of Women in Shiraz, Iran

Millions of women living in developing countries constitute 70 percent of the world's 1.3 billion poor (ILO, 2000). Despite many international agreements affirming women's rights, women are still have more limited access than men to property ownership, credit, training and employment. Gender-based inequalities lead women to lower economic, political and social status, particularly in Asian countries. This study seeks to investigate the contribution of NGO's function to the empowerment of women. This study measures two levels of women's empowerment: individual and collective (community) empowerment. Data are collected from eleven women's NGOs with one hundred and ninety five (195) women who supported by these NGOs in Shiraz. This study used the quantitative approach to answer the objectives of study. The results revealed that NGOs have affected on women's empowerment. The finding of this study has important implications for developing of empowerment particularly women in Iran. As result showed, the women empowered individually and collectively as they involved in NGOs activities. This result will help the women to realizing themselves, and finding their situation at the society. [Hedayat Allah Nikkhah, Mostafa Zhairinia. Contribution of NGO's functions to Empowerment of Women in Shiraz, Iran. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(4):490-496] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com.