Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Management, Accounting and Economics, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Researcher in Rural Development and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Golestan Provincial Government, Golestan, Iran.
3
Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.
Abstract
The present study, entitled Representation of Rural Women’s Experiences of the Impacts of Digital Literacy on Empowerment and Local Economy in the Oghan Region of Golestan Province, was conducted as a qualitative–exploratory research. The statistical population consisted of rural women engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, handicrafts, and ecotourism across ten villages under study. A purposive sample of 50 participants was selected. Data validity was ensured through the opinions of rural entrepreneurship experts and local informants, while reliability was confirmed via re-coding by three independent experts. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding within the thematic analysis method. Findings revealed that digital literacy had the greatest impact on the dimension of “market expansion and income growth,” with a share of 44.22% and first priority, highlighting its key role in accessing new markets, increasing non-local customers, and enhancing economic capacities of rural women. Results also indicated that women with university education had higher shares in “financial management and organization”, “learning and skill development”, and “individual and social empowerment”, reflecting the role of higher education in strengthening managerial abilities, developing new skills, and enhancing social capital. Based on the findings, the development of sustainable digital infrastructure in villages, the organization of short-term training workshops in digital marketing, and the creation of joint marketing platforms for handicrafts and local products are among the key recommendations of the study, which can reduce costs, build customer trust, and pave the way for sustainable rural economic development.
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