The study aimed to identify the direct and indirect impact of the causes of unemployment on the economic conditions of rural women and on the social participation of rural women in the two villages of the study (Nasser Al-Thawra and Al-Munira villages) in Al-Kharga District in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt, through economic conditions as a mediating variable. A sample of 346 rural females were selected from the total population of 3486 people distributed proportionally between the two villages. The results indicated that work-life balance, discrimination and sexism, the wage gap, and marital status directly and positively affect the general economic conditions of rural women. However, job opportunities, training and skills development do not affect significantly economic conditions. With regard to social participation, it was found that the causes of unemployment and the economic conditions of rural women directly affect their level of participation. Work-life balance, discrimination, sexism, and the pay gap are all positively associated with social participation. Social status also had a positive effect, while training and skill development had a negative effect. Employment opportunities and the overall degree of economic conditions had no significant effect on social participation. Based on these findings, the research recommends that policies and programs that promote flexible working arrangements, such as part-time work, telecommuting, and job-sharing opportunities, should be implemented.