ANALYSIS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN IRAN: EDUCATION AND GENDER INEQUALITY IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This thesis attempts to address existing gender parities and gaps in Iran compared to Azerbaijan and Turkey in terms of human development perspective. Human development by enlarging people’s freedoms and potentials draws the attention to “ends” and insists on both intrinsic and instrumental values of development. The three main components within human development are: capabilities, free agency and achievements. Health, education and per capita income are the essential indicators of Human Development Index (HDI). Each of which has the same ratio in HDI value estimation. Gender inequality as a global phenomenon, increasingly focuses on women’s deprivation of education, health, income and social developments. This thesis discusses Iran's educational developments analytically and compares female-to-male progresses in HDI indicators of Iran with Turkey and Azerbaijan. The main goal of human development and capability approach is equal distribution of capabilities and functionings among people. The exceptional status of education in having both intrinsic and instrumental values multiplies the significance of equal education in a global context. In addition to the direct impact of education on total health and income rates, parity in education has the capacity to empower women and make them qualified for well-paid vocations. Iran from 1990 to 2015 has had a sustainable progress in health, education and per capita income. In case of education, Iran has proceeded remarkably in women’s access to schools. Iran has almost succeeded to close the gender gap in education, while gender inequality remains in achievements so far. In comparison, in Turkey and Azerbaijan, raising women’s capabilities has led to more achievements in terms of economic resources, labor force participation and political participation. According to human development reports, Turkey in capability distribution has experienced more gender disparity than Iran. By filtering the health indicator, Azerbaijan has the best status in gender parity rather than Turkey and Iran. Turkish women’s high life expectancy at birth is the best among the analyzed countries. Unlike Iran, educated women in Azerbaijan and Turkey have lower unemployment rates than Iranian women. That is probably why women in Iran recently have less interest to continue their education in tertiary level and this disappointment has reproduced the gender gap.