Feminist perspectives on social entrepreneurship: critique and new directions

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Clark Muntean ◽  
Banu Ozkazanc-Pan
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Feminist Perspectives ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose The authors bring diverse feminist perspectives to bear on social entrepreneurship research and practice to challenge existing assumptions and approaches while providing new directions for research at the intersections of gender, social and commercial entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach The authors apply liberal feminist, socialist feminist and transnational/post-colonial feminist perspectives to critically examine issues of gender in the field of social entrepreneurship. Findings By way of three distinct feminist lenses, the analyses suggest that the social entrepreneurship field does not recognize gender as an organizing principle in society. Further to this, a focus on women within this field replicates problematic gendered assumptions underlying the field of women’s entrepreneurship research. Practical implications The arguments and suggestions provide a critical gender perspective to inform the strategies and programmes adopted by practitioners and the types of research questions entrepreneurship scholars ask. Social implications The authors redirect the conversation away from limited status quo approaches towards the explicit and implicit aim of social entrepreneurship and women’s entrepreneurship: that is, economic and social equality for women across the globe. Originality/value The authors explicitly adopt a cultural, institutional and transnational analysis to interrogate the intersection of gender and social entrepreneurship.

scholarly journals New directions for entrepreneurship through a gender and disability lens

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1706-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jannine Williams ◽  
Nicola Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Disabled Women ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

PurposeThere is a dearth of studies exploring the intersection of gender and disability within entrepreneurship research. This is despite women’s entrepreneurship research encouraging an expansion of the research questions asked and approaches taken. As a contribution to this debate, the purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of gender and disability as social categorizations which can shape entrepreneurial opportunities and experiences for disabled women entrepreneurs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper offers an intersectional conceptual lens for the study of disabled women entrepreneurs to explore a concern for a particular social group – women – at a neglected point of intersection – disability – within the social setting of entrepreneurship. Guided by the research question (how can gender and feminist disability theory contribute to the development of an intersectional theoretical lens for future entrepreneurship research?), the potential for new theoretical insights to emerge in the entrepreneurship field is identified.FindingsThrough a gender and disability intersectional lens for entrepreneurship research, four theoretical synergies between gender and disability research are identified: the economic rationale; flexibility, individualism and meritocracy; and social and human capital. In addition to the theoretical synergies, the paper highlights three theoretical variances: the anomalous body and bodily variation; sexuality, beauty and appearance; and multiple experiences of care as potentially generative areas for women’s entrepreneurship research. The paper identifies new directions for future gender, disability and entrepreneurship research by outlining research questions for each synergy and variance which draw attention to disabled women entrepreneurs’ experiences of choice and control within and across different spaces and processes of entrepreneuring.Originality/valueThe conceptual intersectional lens offered to study disabled women’s entrepreneurship highlights new directions for exploring experiences of entrepreneuring at the intersection of disability and gender. The paper brings disability into view as a social category that should be of concern to feminist entrepreneurship researchers by surfacing different dimensions of experience to those currently explored. Through the new directions outlined, future research can further disrupt the prevailing discourse of individualism and meritocracy that perpetuates success as an individual’s responsibility, and instead offer the potential for richer understandings of entrepreneuring which has a gender and disability consciousness.

scholarly journals Extending Women's Entrepreneurship Research in New Directions

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen D. Hughes ◽  
Jennifer E. Jennings ◽  
Candida Brush ◽  
Sara Carter ◽  
Friederike Welter
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Revisiting women’s entrepreneurship

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Family Firm ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Family ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study women’s entrepreneurship from the family-firm context and radical subjectivist (RS) economics. While women’s entrepreneurship is a long-standing topic of research interest, there have been calls for more theory-oriented research and research which takes context factors in women’s entrepreneurship seriously. The paper responds to this by using an RS’s view of economics as a theoretical lens to consider women’s entrepreneurship in family firms. Design/methodology/approach – The paper briefly reviews the potential of the family-firm context for examining women’s entrepreneurship in a non-reductive fashion, then outlines radical subjectivism (RS). The three main elements of RS’s “entrepreneurial imagination” are explained, then linked with other theories of family-firm behaviour and applied to casework on women entrepreneurs in family firms. Findings – Each element of the entrepreneurial imagination, empathy, modularity and self-organization, generates new research questions which contest previous apparently settled views about women entrepreneurs. Protocols for investigating the questions are suggested. The third element, self-organization, while more difficult to operationalize for empirical testing, suggests how women’s entrepreneurship might generate new industries. Research limitations/implications – While this is primarily a conceptual study, its case studies invite further exploration of both women entrepreneurs and family firms. The RS perspective could also increase understanding of shared leadership and innovation in family firms. Specific research questions and protocols for investigating them are offered. Practical implications – Insights from the research have practical implications for entrepreneurship education, for understanding entrepreneurship at the level of society, the firm and the individual. Social implications – The importance of both family firms and women entrepreneurs to society makes it important to understand both of them better. The RS perspective can help. Originality/value – The paper highlights the value of combining attention to entrepreneurial context (family firms) and theory (RS) to reinvigorate some old research questions about women entrepreneurs. The combination of family firms and RS is also novel.

Searching for a theory of dark social entrepreneurship

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Allen Talmage ◽  
Jocelyn Bell ◽  
Gheorghe Dragomir
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Empirical Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Entrepreneurship Theory ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to extend social entrepreneurship theory by investigating the darker sides of innovation and enterprise. Entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship theories regarding shifting equilibriums are considered alongside other traditions. This research presents how individuals see enterprises as dark and light and discusses how such perceptions are important to building emerging theories of light and dark social entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a survey of public perceptions (n= 631) regarding the social and economic impact of a total of 15 different enterprises to create a map of the darker variations of enterprises. An 11-point scale was used to evaluate perceived impact.FindingsThe mapping of each enterprise on a coordinate plane resulted in four thematic areas: traditional enterprises (light social, light economic), taboo enterprises (dark social, light economic), dark enterprises (dark social, dark economic) and alternative enterprises (light social, dark economic). Some enterprises crossed between the thematic areas.Research limitations/implicationsThis study opens up new directions for research on dark social entrepreneurship and research on enterprises that influence social equilibriums.Practical implicationsThis study provides guidance for practitioners and policymakers to better understand phenomena such as dark, taboo and alternative enterprises and their nuances.Social implicationsThis study allows for a broader look at social entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise to better understand dark and light nuances. Similarities between the lighter and darker forms of enterprises are noted.Originality/valueThis study builds on dark entrepreneurship and dark social entrepreneurship theories and concepts using empirical methods.

Social entrepreneurship research in Asia-Pacific: perspectives and opportunities

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhanjan Sengupta ◽  
Arunaditya Sahay
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Social Entrepreneur ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
The Social

Purpose This paper aims to facilitate researchers, academicians and entrepreneurs gain insights on the social entrepreneurship concept and future research opportunities in the context of the Asia-Pacific countries (APAC). Design/methodology/approach The diversity of social entrepreneurship phenomenon visible in 101 journal publications was reviewed and analyzed to identify research perspectives and opportunities, with special focus on papers published on the APAC context between 1998 and 2015. The keywords for search were “social entrepreneurship”, “social enterprises”, “social entrepreneur” and the names of all countries in APAC. Findings The study identifies three prominent themes in need of more research in the APAC countries: contextual, institutional and personal factors surrounding social entrepreneurship; usage of market orientation by social enterprises to generate economic and social value; and impact of social entrepreneurship education on generating talent pool for social enterprises. Originality/value During the review on the social entrepreneurship concept, it was felt that most research originated from both sides of the Atlantic rather than the APAC. Interestingly, no review was found on research published on social entrepreneurship as perceived and practiced in APAC. Therefore, this paper would be of particular value to any researcher who would conduct social entrepreneurship research in the Asia-Pacific context. Asia-Pacific offers immense scope for empirical research for theory generation and theory testing in different contexts.

Come on out of the ghetto, please! – Building the future of entrepreneurship research

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Baker ◽  
Friederike Welter
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurship Research ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Future ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Special Case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make the argument that previously marginalized but now flourishing subfields of entrepreneurship research continue to provide insights that can form the basis for future entrepreneurship research that is more broadly practical and critical. What is currently core or “mainstream” in entrepreneurship research would then be seen as an important but rare special case. Design/methodology/approach The essay briefly explores a number of illustrative themes that have emerged and become important in women’s entrepreneurship research (acknowledging that some similar themes have emerged in other subfields). These themes are used to suggest how broader application of such insights to theory-building about entrepreneurship in general – rather than “just” to “women’s entrepreneurship” – might greatly enrich the field. Findings The authors’ arguments suggest that research focused on ghettoized subfields such as women’s entrepreneurship challenge the assumptions of what entrepreneurship is and what it contributes. For example the richer perspective on motivations, goals, and outcomes and on the possibilities of emancipation that currently animate research on women’s entrepreneurship can improve the understanding of all entrepreneurship. Originality/value Too much of current entrepreneurship research is both of limited practical value for “practitioners” and of little “critical value” for scholars interested in how things might work better. The authors argue that by broadening the set of goals, motivations, contexts and accomplishments that are taken as legitimate targets of study, entrepreneurship research can become both more practical and more critical and thus more broadly useful and legitimate.

CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A REVIEW AND STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 67-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
LISA K. GUNDRY ◽  
BEN-YOSEPH MIRIAM ◽  
MARGARET POSIG
Keyword(s):  
Global Economy ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Major Research ◽  
Enterprise Growth ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Recent Scholarship ◽  
The World ◽  
Entrepreneurial Organization ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

The study of women's entrepreneurship has grown steadily during the last two decades, as the number of women-owned businesses worldwide has increased dramatically. This article presents an examination of major research questions and highlights the most recent scholarship on women's entrepreneurship within several key domains. The findings integrate broad areas of inquiry, including the emergence of women-owned firms in the global economy, entrepreneurial and firm characteristics, financing patterns, the greatest challenges to enterprise growth, and the influence of culture and family on the entrepreneurial organization. Recommendations are provided to contribute to an increased understanding of the dynamics of women-headed entrepreneurial enterprises around the world.

Exploring the motivations of tourism social entrepreneurs

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1137-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziene Mottiar
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Tourism Destinations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivations of social entrepreneurs. It explores the case of the Gathering in Ireland in 2013, when against a backdrop of recession, the national Government encouraged individuals and communities to organize events and invite the Diaspora to visit Ireland as a way of helping the country to revitalize. Some 5,000 events took place across the country during the year, and this paper examines this in the context of social entrepreneurship. Three research questions are posed: Who were these tourism and social entrepreneurs who organized events as a result of the Gathering? What motivated them to engage in these activities? Will this social entrepreneurship activity be maintained beyond 2013 and how has it been impacted by the Gathering? Design/methodology/approach The empirical research was conducted in two counties in Ireland, Co. Kerry and Co. Westmeath. The research tools used were key informant interviews, a survey of event organizers and focus groups. Findings Key findings show that the Gathering has resulted in the emergence of new social entrepreneurs, but it has also had a positive impact on those who had run their events before, as it made them be more strategic in the way they planned and ran their event and also resulted in them thinking about these events in terms of tourists rather than just the local community. They also developed new skills which will aid their future development. It is clear that social entrepreneurs can play a fundamental role in the development of tourism destinations, and this is an important topic for researchers in tourism to be concerned about. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in the fact that it addresses the issue of motivation of social entrepreneurs and challenges us to think more about how these types of entrepreneurs identify the problem that they will address. Furthermore, this case shows that the motivation for such action can be prompted by a national strategy, rather than as the literature heretofore represented it as an innate motivation that materialized and developed within particular individuals.

Coopetition in social entrepreneurship: a strategy for social value devolution

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro da Silva Nascimento ◽  
Júlio César da Costa Júnior ◽  
Viviane Santos Salazar ◽  
Adriana Fumi Chim-Miki
Keyword(s):  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
Cooperation Level ◽  
The Social ◽  
Competition Level

PurposeCoopetition is a well-studied phenomenon in traditional enterprises. However, it lacks deepening in the social sphere, specifically on hybrid organizations (social and commercial goals). This paper analyzes the configuration of coopetition strategies in social enterprises and how these strategies can improve social value devolution.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a multicase study with Brazilian social enterprises and a social incubator. Semistructured interviews with founders of the social enterprises and the president of the incubator were the primary sources of evidence, supported by observations and secondary data.FindingsThe authors identified four main findings: (1) the social incubator induces coopetition among social enterprises; (2) coopetition is necessary to improve market performance; (3) coopetition is a natural strategy resulting from the activity of the social enterprise; (4) the behavior and context of social enterprises generate a new framework for coopetition formation. This framework comprises three stages of value: a social cooperation level to co-creation of value; second, a social competition level to the appropriation of value; and the third coopetition-balanced level to social value devolution.Originality/valueThe authors advance knowledge on coopetition in an exciting, underexplored context, social entrepreneurship. The authors highlight that the coopetition nature and outcome in social enterprises have specificities compared to traditional businesses. The authors also improve the understanding of social value devolution based on simultaneous cooperation and competition among small social enterprises, allowing theoretical and practical implications. Thus, they advance the recurring discussion in coopetition literature beyond the generation and appropriation of value.

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