Broken Silence: A Commentary on Women's Entrepreneurship in the United Arab Emirates

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnamdi O. Madichie ◽  
Monica Gallant
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Depth Interviews

Drawing upon the scant literature on women's entrepreneurship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this paper explores the motivations of women business owners in the country based on 10 in-depth interviews. Considering the patriarchal socio-cultural environmental context associated with the Middle East, a number of surprising dynamics are highlighted in the specific case of the UAE. Growing numbers of women graduates and businesses are observed, which suggests that the historical silence among this group is gradually being broken and that changes in government policies and the socio-cultural environment are the key drivers behind this evolution. The paper will benefit both scholars and government agencies interested in the dynamics of women's entrepreneurship in the UAE and, by extension, the Arab world.

scholarly journals Problems of political unrest: women in small businesses in Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Jaim
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Feminist Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Political Unrest ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Government

PurposeWhereas the extant literature on women's entrepreneurship is almost exclusively focused on developed nations, the effect of many context-specific issues of other countries on ventures of women has been overlooked. The study aims to reveal how political unrest, a common feature of the developing nation, can significantly affect the experiences of women in small businesses of that region.Design/methodology/approachThis feminist research is conducted on Bangladesh, which is one of the most politically unstable countries in the world. The study conducts interviews with women to explore the adverse effect of political unrest on their small firms.FindingsThe feminist research reveals some problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest in this highly patriarchal context. It also discloses how political chaos challenges the government initiative in financially supporting women business-owners.Practical implicationsPolicymakers of developing nations can be benefitted by taking into account the problems of women business-owners concerning political unrest, specifically the access to debt financing issues while designing policies for women's empowerment.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the women's entrepreneurship scholarship with reference to political unrest, a contextual issue of developing nations. Whereas the existing studies mostly concentrate on holding women individually liable for the limited scale of their business operation, this research potentially challenges the view by drawing upon political unrest as an external factor that negatively affects their ventures. The study further advances the prevailing knowledge by critically unveiling some gender-specific problems of women business-owners regarding political unrest.

PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF WOMEN'S LABOR IN RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 63-69
Author(s):  
Sherzod Turobov ◽  
◽  
Bakhriddin Fakhriddinov
Keyword(s):  
Household Income ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Women's Labor ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Family Entrepreneurship

The article reveals the development of women's entrepreneurship by increasing the activity of households in agriculture, the main directions of entrepreneurial activity and the role of entrepreneurship in increasing household income. Government policies, lending and incentives are discussed with the aim of expanding home entrepreneurship. The level of concessional loans provided to households by the central bank and commercial banks is considered in detail. Recommendations are given on the effective use of female labor in rural entrepreneurship.Keywords: women's labor, women's entrepreneurship, home business, entrepreneurship, subsidiary farming, agriculture, gender equality, citizens' gathering, income, personal household plots, employment, crediting, subsidies, family entrepreneurship

Growth barriers of women-owned home-based businesses in Iran: an exploratory study

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 244-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meisam Modarresi ◽  
Zahra Arasti ◽  
Kambiz Talebi ◽  
Maghsoud Farasatkhah
Keyword(s):  
Business Owners ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Growth Barriers ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the growth barriers of women’s home-based businesses (HBBs) in Iran. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative approach was used by 22 in-depth interviews with Iranian female HBBs owners/mangers. Findings Business growth barriers of women were categorized in a multi-level framework of individual barriers (micro), business-related barriers (medium) and environmental barriers (macro). The most important micro-level barrier is lack of skills and experience, while the financial barriers identified as the most business-related one and, finally, the problems of having work interactions with men is the most important environmental barrier women-owned HBBs mentioned. Research limitations/implications The results of this paper can help policy-makers better understand growth barriers for women-owned HBB and attenuate these barriers by developing purposeful supportive growth policies that are commensurate with the barriers. Also, HBB women owners themselves could better concentrate on removing barriers by deepening their understanding of their business growth barriers. Originality/value The paper contributes to the scarce knowledge about women-owned HBBs in Iran, a rapidly growing, developing country, which can provide better insights from a less explored context. Moreover, as there is only a limited understanding of HBB growth, especially in relation to women business owners, the paper results can prove helpful for researchers in the domain of female entrepreneurs.

Women’s entrepreneurship in Iran

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meisam Modarresi ◽  
Zahra Arasti ◽  
Kambiz Talebi ◽  
Maghsoud Farasatkhah
Keyword(s):  
Business Owners ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Working At Home ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Financial Issues ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the growth motivations of women owning and managing home-based businesses (HBBs) in Iran. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative approach was used by 20 in-depth interviews with Iranian female HBBs owners/mangers. Findings The business growth motivations of women owning and managing HBBs were categorized in intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Results show that women owning and managing HBBs are motivated to growth their businesses by intrinsic motivations including need for achievement, need for independence, proving competency and socio-cultural concerns. Also, they are motivated by some extrinsic motivations including financial issues, fame, positive feedback from others and the problems of working at home. Research limitations/implications Given the importance of entrepreneurial growth, the findings provide additional insight into growth motivations of women entrepreneurs. Practical implications The results of this study can help policymakers to develop purposeful growth policies for women’s HBBs that are commensurate with the motivations. Social implications Also, women owning and managing HBBs themselves could better concentrate on enhancing business growth by deepening their understanding of their business growth motivations. Originality/value The paper contributes to the scarce knowledge about women-owned HBBs in Iran, a rapidly growing, developing country, which can provide better insights from a less explored context. Moreover, as there is only a limited understanding of HBB growth, especially in relation to women business owners, the study results can prove helpful for researchers in the domain of female entrepreneurs. Also, this paper contributes to theory on the motivation for entrepreneurship and to research on growth motivation.

AMERICAN INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR SUCCESS IN ESTABLISHING BUSINESSES ON OR NEAR RESERVATIONS IN WISCONSIN

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 1650017 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHANIE J. ERDMANN
Keyword(s):  
American Indian ◽  
Financial Distress ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Special Programs ◽  
Depth Interviews

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore a sample of American Indian entrepreneurs' perceptions of why and how they became successful owners of businesses on or near reservations in Wisconsin. The results provide insight about how to encourage and support potential American Indian entrepreneurs to open more businesses on or near reservation lands to create viable economies. This explorative study used planned inquiry to gather qualitative data by conducting in-depth interviews and collecting supportive data through critical incidents. The participants in the study include seven current American Indian business owners. Based on the findings, analysis and results of the research study, recommendations have been developed for tribal leaders, tribal educators, government agencies, and for further research. The conclusions to the research, which addressed the six themes and their findings, show that successful American Indian entrepreneurs (a) have been exposed to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ideals; (b) have an understanding of business concepts; (c) have been educated and have sought additional knowledge; (d) have participated in special programs with tribal preferences; (e) are risk-adverse to personal financial distress and (f) have nurtured relationships between and among themselves and family as well as between and among their communities.

scholarly journals From Brides to Business Owners: Microfinance and Women’s Entrepreneurship

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-272
Author(s):  
Paromita Sanyal
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Distress ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship ◽  
Nuclear Household

Women’s entrepreneurship through microfinance programs has been celebrated as a model for reducing poverty and empowering women. Yet, evidence of the incidence of women’s entrepreneurship has been disappointing, leading to much critique and controversy. This article presents case narratives of women enrolled in microfinance programs in rural India who took the leap onto entrepreneurship and used microcredit loans to expand or start their small-scale livelihoods enterprises. These narratives illustrate the particular economic and social conditions that are found in cases where women have transitioned from being dependent, gender-compliant housewives to sole-earners or main breadwinners. Marital failure, functional absence or retreat of husband, economic distress, living in a nuclear household, and absence of an adult son are consistently evident in all cases of women’s entrepreneurship. This qualitative analysis helps us understand why women’s entrepreneurship is not more widespread despite the availability of microcredit loans.

How families shape women’s entrepreneurial success in Morocco: an intersectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1786-1808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Constantinidis ◽  
Typhaine Lebègue ◽  
Manal El Abboubi ◽  
Noura Salman
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Women Professionals ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
Data Accessibility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Women’S Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women's Entrepreneurship

Purpose Studies on women’s entrepreneurship in Morocco are scarce, despite the potential of women for the country’s economy. This research takes place in a socio-cultural environment searching for a compromise between tradition and modernity. Families occupy a prominent place in Morocco, directly influencing women’s activities. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of family in Moroccan women’s entrepreneurial success. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative research is based on 60 interviews with women entrepreneurs in Morocco, including women business owners, women professionals and also women co-operators who have not been documented until now, due to data accessibility. It is diversified in terms of personal, family and professional characteristics. The analysis uses an intersectionality framework taking gender and social class into consideration. Findings The results highlight three categories of women entrepreneur: the “elite”, the “self-made women” and the “co-operators”. Each category is characterised by specific familial and professional realities, underpinned by differentiated dynamics in terms of gender and social class. Practical implications The study, from a practical point of view, contributes to a better understanding of the differentiated realities encountered in terms of women’s entrepreneurship, in the Moroccan context. Originality/value Studies in developing countries tend to consider women entrepreneurs as a homogeneous group. This research highlights the fact that family support, women entrepreneurs’ practices and their role in entrepreneurial success depend on the background situations in terms of gender and social class. It also contributes to the entrepreneurial success field, revealing different definitions and perceptions of success among women entrepreneurs.

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