This research aimed to develop a grounded theory about the breadwinner rural woman and how participating in economic empowerment program assists breadwinner rural woman in improving their life. To achieve these aims; grounded theory method and quasi-experimental design were followed. The participants stakeholders at the local level were represented of three groups as follows; Intervening Group which consisted of 24 breadwinner woman represented the beneficiaries; Comparing group which consisted of 24 breadwinner woman represented the non-beneficiaries; and official service providers in the program at the local level which consisted of 13 participants. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, 15 focus group discussion, documentary evidence, and follow-up participant checks and collaborative analysis were used. Data was analyzed by identifying and labeling concepts through open coding. During axial coding the concepts were analyzed according to properties and dimensions. Through the third and final stage of analysis, selective coding, the core category and central theory emerged. Findings showed several positive and negative impacts at breadwinner rural woman level. As positive impacts; providing children needs; increasing the ability of self-dependency; and the capacity on resources management were the most positive impacts. On the other hand, there were negative impacts such as; emotional deprivation; Inability to educate children; Increased the financial burden of the family; Increased work pressure; Increased pressures of life; and the emergence of running away phenomena from home among some breadwinner women. Several shortcomings related to the economic empowerment program have also been explored.  As holistic view; This research provides that breadwinner rural women is self-dependency women. The practical implementations of these findings provide insights to managers and policy makers to reconsidering the women-development approaches; especially which related to breadwinner woman. Other approaches have been proposed to alleviate the suffering of breadwinner woman.