Richness in diversity: Towards more contemporary research conceptualisations of women’s entrepreneurship

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 609-618
Author(s):  
Colette Henry ◽  
Susan Coleman ◽  
Lene Foss ◽  
Barbara J Orser ◽  
Candida G Brush
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Theoretical Development ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Key Dimensions

Analyses of the diversity of women entrepreneurs and their enterprises, using novel approaches and theoretical viewpoints, is lacking in contemporary scholarship. Accordingly, this article reviews and critiques five articles that constitute this Special Issue (SI) focused on exploring the diversity of women’s entrepreneurship. The authors acknowledge that entrepreneurship is a rich and multi-coloured tapestry, hence, these SI articles highlight the complexities of women entrepreneurs and celebrate their diversity through signposting towards research conceptualisations that reflect the actual rather than the assumed status quo. The article contributes to extant scholarship by platforming the heterogeneity of women’s entrepreneurial endeavours, supporting the view that in terms of supporting women’s entrepreneurship, ‘one size (still) does not fit all’. We also propose a framework to help future scholars strengthen the quality and relevance of their research on women entrepreneurs along four key dimensions: influence of context; theoretical development; multiplicity of dimensions; and heterogeneity.

Women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization: patterns and trends

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 780-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Ratten ◽  
Kayhan Tajeddini
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization in order to build an understanding about future trends. There is increasing interest in the role of women in entrepreneurship yet little research has been conducted about the link to internationalization patterns. Design/methodology/approach The literature is reviewed based on a systematic analysis of the words women, female, gender and internationalization. Findings Three main schools of thought around women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization (philosophy, management and motivations) are then discussed. The analysis of literature and classification into main theories enables the building of new research around women’s entrepreneurship and internationalization. Originality/value There is a pipeline of women intending to become entrepreneurs so this paper helps to understand how women entrepreneurs influence internationalization patterns and how to help support women in their business endeavors.

scholarly journals Economic Empowerment of Malaysian Women through Entrepreneurship: Barriers and Enablers

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanusia Arumugam ◽  
G. Marthandan ◽  
Indra Devi Subramaniam
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Delphi Technique ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
Women's Development ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Development Department

<p>The main aim of this study is to identify the barriers and enablers to Malaysian women’s entrepreneurship. A mixed method was used in this study. A qualitative approach using Delphi technique was used to obtain consensus on the barriers and enablers. This was incorporated into a questionnaire which was used in the survey of women entrepreneurs to obtain quantitative data on the barriers and enablers to women’s entrepreneurship. The respondents were 130 participants of a seminar for women entrepreneurs conducted by the Women’s Development Department of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community. The study found that the three top barriers were the lack of KSAOs followed by restrictive legalities, regulations and procedures and lack of business support and network. Personality and self-efficacy emerged as the most important enabler followed by support for businesses from government and women focused initiatives from government and NGOs.<strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF THE CRISIS CAUSED BY COVID-19 ON WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TOURISM IN SERBIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nebojša Pavlović ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Domestic Tourism ◽  
The Future ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this paper is to consider the impact of the crisis caused by Covid-19 on tourism and on women's entrepreneurship in tourism in Serbia. The paper will use the methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, abstraction, specification and generalization, observation, testing, content analysis, and case study. Based on the available data, it can be concluded that the crisis caused by Covid-19 on the one hand led to (1) the closure of a large number of entrepreneurial companies in the field of tourism, as a result of which a large number of women entrepreneurs lost their jobs; (2) the increased importance of domestic tourism due to the increase in the participation of domestic tourists in total tourist trends. In the future, more attention should be paid to the possibility of training women entrepreneurs in the field of tourism.

scholarly journals Neo-liberalism translated into preconditions for women entrepreneurs – two contrasting cases

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Tillmar ◽  
Helene Ahl ◽  
Karin Berglund ◽  
Katarina Pettersson
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Institutional Context ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Institutional Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Contrasting two countries with different gender regimes and welfare states, Sweden and Tanzania, this paper aims to analyse how the institutional context affects the ways in which a neo-liberal reform agenda is translated into institutional changes and propose how such changes impact the preconditions for women’s entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This study uses document analysis and previous studies to describe and analyse the institutions and the institutional changes. This paper uses Scandinavian institutional theory as the interpretative framework. Findings This study proposes that: in well-developed welfare states with a high level of gender equality, consequences of neo-liberal agenda for the preconditions for women entrepreneurs are more likely to be negative than positive. In less developed states with a low level of gender equality, the gendered consequences of neo-liberal reforms may be mixed and the preconditions for women’s entrepreneurship more positive than negative. How neo-liberalism impacts preconditions for women entrepreneurs depend on the institutional framework in terms of a trustworthy women-friendly state and level of gender equality. Research limitations/implications The study calls for bringing the effects on the gender of the neo-liberal primacy of market solutions out of the black box. Studying how women entrepreneurs perceive these effects necessitates qualitative ethnographic data. Originality/value This paper demonstrates why any discussion of the impact of political or economic reforms on women’s entrepreneurship must take a country’s specific institutional context into account. Further, previous studies on neo-liberalism have rarely taken an interest in Africa.

scholarly journals Environment and Women Entrepreneurs in Albania

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Azra Zmijanej
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Growth Promoting ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
And Gender

Albania has become a much attractive environment for the development of women's entrepreneurship. If women are provided with the necessary resources, skills and opportunities to create strong businesses, and if they are willing to pursue the growth potential of these companies due to a more favorable environment, will benefit from economic growth. Promoting women entrepreneurs will create employment, empowerment and gender equality. But in fact the woman in the enterprise faces many challenges caused by various factors. In this study sought to analyze women entrepreneurs and their work environment in Albania and the challenges they face. It will identify policies for the development of enterprises managed by women in Albania. The data for this study were provided by various sources of literature. Secondary data are the result of the review of a wide and contemporary literature about women entrepreneurs, the environment and challenges. Primary data collection were carried out a series of in-depth personal interviews with some powerful women entrepreneurs in Albania. The results of this study show that woman has won respect in society and plays an important role in governance, political and private sector. It is clearly evidenced that women are becoming increasingly involved in social and economic life of the country and that an enabling environment for women's entrepreneurship, consolidates and supports their role.

KIRGIZİSTAN’DA GENÇ KADIN GİRİŞİMCİLİĞİNİN MEVCUT DURUMU

2020 ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
А.У. Аскарбекова
Keyword(s):  
New Deal ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
General Situation ◽  
Pull Factors ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Push Factors ◽  
Women Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Özet. Kadın girişimciliği giderek hızlı gelişmektedir ve bu konuya ilgiyi arttırmaktadır. Kadın girişimciliği ekonomik büyümeyi sağlamada ve istihdam olanaklarını arttırmada önemli rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Kırgızistan’daki genç kadın girişimciliğin genel durumu, Kırgız kadınları girişimciliğe motive eden faktörler, karşılaştığı sorunlar ve çözüm önerilerini ortaya koymaktır. Genç kadın girişimcilerin temel sorunları kaynak bulmada ortaya çıktığı ve son zamanlarda iticiden daha çok çekici faktörlerden güdülenerek yeni işe başladıkları sonucuna gidilmiştir. Аннотация. Аялдар ишкердүүлүгү тездик менен өнүгүп жатат жана бул маселеге болгон кызыгууну арттырууда. Аялдардын ишкердүүлүгү экономикалык өсүүнү камсыз кылуу жана жумушка орношуу мүмкүнчүлүктөрүн жогорулатууда маанилүү ролду ойнойт. Бул изилдөөнүн максаты - Кыргызстандагы жаш аял ишкердүүлүгүнүн жалпы абалын, кыргыз аялдарын ишкердүүлүккө түрткөн факторлорду, көйгөйлөрдү жана аларды чечүү жолдорун табуу болуп саналат. Жаш аял ишкерлердин негизги көйгөйлөрү ресурстарды издеп табууга байланыштуу жана акыркы кездерде жагымсыз терс факторлорго караганда жагымдуу факторлордон мотивациялануу менен жаңы бизнес баштап жатышкандыгы аныкталды. Abstract. Women entrepreneurship is growing rapidly and this causes lots of interest. Women’s entrepreneurship plays an important role in promoting economiс growth and increasing employment opportunities. The purpose of this study is to reveal the general situation of young women entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan, the factors motivating Kyrgyz women to entrepreneurship, the problems they are facing, and the suggestions for solutions. The main. problems of young women entrepreneurs are finding the resourses and in recent times pull factors motivate much more to start new deal than push factors.

Policy Approaches to Promote Women Entrepreneurship in India

2021 ◽  
pp. 147-165
Author(s):  
Nishi Tyagi ◽  
Rinkal Sharma ◽  
Pallavi Jain
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Status ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Successful Women ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Women are traditionally regarded as homemakers and are restricted to household affairs and family customs. At the same time, the Indian society is a male-dominated one in the sociological setup, and the women are considered weak and dependent. The major problems of women's entrepreneurship development in India are poor degree of financial freedom for rural women, lack of direct ownership of the property, low risk bearing ability, and lack of contact with successful women entrepreneurs. Through their diligent work, determination, integrity, and dedication, these ambitious women are making a reputation for themselves and gained wealth. The primary objective of this chapter is to discuss the status and problems along with the solutions of women entrepreneurs in India. It also includes the significance of women's entrepreneurship and analyzes the policies of the Indian government for women in urban and rural areas. It will initiate a dialogue with policymakers on how to foster enhanced innovation in women-owned enterprises in India.

Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 338-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Emilia Bianco ◽  
Margaret Lombe ◽  
Mara Bolis
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Gender Ideologies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Gender Scripts ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Social Interactionism

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of women’s entrepreneurship to bring about greater gender equality. Understanding women’s entrepreneurship as a gendered process (Bird and Brush, 2002), the study presents the challenges encountered by women entrepreneurs as a result of gender ideologies. It documents structural barriers, discriminatory interactions and oppressive gender scripts and their effects on the women and their businesses. Acknowledging women’s possibilities for agency and resistance, the study analyzes how women entrepreneurs conform, contest or negotiate gender scripts and constraints, and looks at the consequences of these actions. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from elements of social interactionism and the doing and undoing gender theories, the authors use a feminist theoretic framework to guide analysis of qualitative data from two focus groups conducted with 19 women entrepreneurs in Colombia. Findings Gender ideologies were manifested in the forms of interrelated structural barriers that restricted women entrepreneurs’ access to resources. Social interactions represented spaces in which gender ideologies were reinforced, but also spaces women used to produce changes through resistance and accommodation strategies. Entrepreneurship was associated with positive changes toward greater gender equality, although negative consequences were reported. Research limitations/implications Due to the limited sample, more studies across countries may be needed for the consolidation of a generalizable theoretical framework. Originality/value This study presents a feminist theoretic framework in dialogue with the lived experiences of women entrepreneurs. It observes the processes of change toward gender equality embedded in business development.

Exploring the normative context for women’s entrepreneurship in Pakistan: a critical analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Azam Roomi ◽  
Sumaira Rehman ◽  
Colette Henry
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Career Choices ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The role of women in Pakistani society – largely embedded in its patriarchal socio–cultural environment – has important implications for women’s entrepreneurial activity in the country. This study aims to investigate and analyse the influence of informal institutional factors on women’s entry into entrepreneurship in Pakistan, and determine how women exercise agency to cope with the constraints posed by such factors. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach is used to explore the normative context and lived experiences of women entrepreneurs in relation to the influence of socio–cultural beliefs and attitudes on their entrepreneurial career choices. Findings The findings suggest that women’s entrepreneurial career choices both revolve around and are shaped by a complex interplay of socio–cultural influences. Pakistani women entrepreneurs exercise their agency as a means of negotiating gender roles within both household and society, using religious descriptions as a means to justify their entrepreneurial activity. Research limitations/implications While every effort has been made to ensure that the data were objectively interpreted, and the derived findings were robustly analysed, the research team acknowledges the many difficulties associated with adopting a social constructionist approach. As articulated by Fletcher (2011), the key issues of contextual objectivity (i.e. where the researcher judges what is important), reflexive turn (the need for the researcher to constantly reconnect with the subject) and potential multiplicity of contexts (the various contextual and potentially conflicting influences on the researcher) presents ongoing challenges for researchers in this field. Originality/value This study offers valuable insights into the impact of the informal (socio–cultural) institutional factors on women’s entrepreneurial activity, opening up new avenues for further research. The study also contributes to the women’s entrepreneurship literature from the perspective of an Islamic developing country.

Gendering of commercial justice – experience of self-employed women in urban Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Tillmar
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
East Africa ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Informal Institutions ◽  
Interview Study ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose – Women’s entrepreneurship is often seen as the solution of both economic growth and gender equality. This is despite academic knowledge of the gendered preconditions for entrepreneurship in many contexts. This paper aims to focus on the gendering of commercial justice, a precondition for entrepreneurship. Informed by gender perspectives on women’s entrepreneurship and previous studies on commercial justice in East Africa, this paper sets out to explore the experiences of urban women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on an interview study with women entrepreneurs and representatives of support organizations in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The interviews were conducted in Kiswahili, and access was enabled through dialogues with local partner organizations such as the Tanzanian Chamber of Commerce. Findings – Findings are that with formal legal rights, the informal institutions imply that the marital status of the women, and the attitude of their husbands, is the overarching determinants for the commercial justice perceived as available to them. This has implication for many policy areas, such as entrepreneurship support, women’s empowerment and labour market policy. Theoretically, the findings highlight the importance of studying the informal institutions affecting women’s entrepreneurship around the globe. Concerning commercial justice in particular, three dimensions of gendering are identified. Research limitations/implications – The paper is based on a qualitative interview study. Further studies with varying methods are needed to further explore the gendering of commercial justice in Tanzania, East Africa and beyond. Practical implications – A major practical implication of the study is the insight that business for development, will not automatically lead to business for equality, on a general level. The gender bias is also reproduced in everyday business life, for example, thorough access to commercial justice. Special measures to target the gender equality issue are, therefore, necessary. Another implication of the findings regard the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution initiatives, affordable to women small and medium enterprise-owners. Originality/value – While other obstacles to women’s entrepreneurship in the developing contexts have been well explored, the gendering of perceived commercial justice has not received sufficient attention in previous studies. Studies applying a gender theoretical perspective on entrepreneurship in the explored context are still needed.

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