Perspectives on Women's Entrepreneurial Learning and the Evolution of Female Entrepreneurship Research

The aim of the chapter is to increase the knowledge regarding the methods and styles of learning used by women entrepreneurs in general, and in South East Wales and Malaysia in particular. The research question is What methods and styles of learning do women entrepreneurs employ in their businesses, in general, and specifically in SE Wales and Malaysia? The chapter is a theoretical study with a small empirical extension with two samples of women and men entrepreneurs in the South East Wales. The findings of this chapter support the constructive perspective on learning, adult and social learning, demonstrating the role of social interaction for women entrepreneurs' learning and experiential learning. Through a gender perspective with accent on andragogy, and by designing a model of women entrepreneurial learning, the study shapes a new direction within the research field of women entrepreneurship and constitutes an original contribution to knowledge.

Women Entrepreneurship

According to the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), not more than 14% of business establishments are run by female entrepreneurs in India, especially in rural areas. Entrepreneurship is not an easy step for women. It was traditionally considered as a man's bastion, but now with the due course of time, women are coming in the limelight to fulfil their aspiration as it is a fruitful opportunity where educated or illiterates can do wonders to achieve their dreams. Entrepreneurship is the state of mind which every woman has in her but has not been capitalized in India in a way it should have been. With the drastic change in modernization, people are more comfortable to accept the leading role of women in society, with some exceptions.

New Emerging Technologies and ICT and Their Impact on Women Entrepreneurs' Success

Women entrepreneurs have an essential role for the economic growth of a country. Furthermore, ICTs and new emerging technologies facilitate the increase in number of women entrepreneurs who access education, training, and start their businesses from home. The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the impact of new emerging technologies and ICTs on women entrepreneurs' success through an empirical study conducted in SE Wales and by means of the literature review in Malaysia. Furthermore, the chapter attempts to find out women entrepreneurs' styles and methods of learning with new emerging technologies and ICTs in the SE Wales and Malaysia. The research methodology used in this study is mixed methodology.

Determinants of Women's Entrepreneurial Attitude Across European Cultures

This chapter explores the factors affecting women entrepreneurial attitudes across a range of European cultures. It acknowledges that women's socio-cultural profile across Europe has become an interesting issue to consider. The findings show that getting an insight into the world of women entrepreneurs helps us to understand their roles, expectations, and the factors that influence their entrepreneurial attitudes across different cultures. In addition, gender-based differences and stereotypes are noted as prevalent in the enterprise and entrepreneurship. Despite the challenges, this chapter indicates the women's success in business ventures and why they are perceived as entrepreneurs operating in a European culture. This chapter concludes by calling for a change from the traditional masculinity and femininity validation to the modern perception of women entrepreneurship as the way for innovation and economic growth.

Inequalities

This chapter explores the concern of inequalities in human history and throughout the globe. It aims to be a holistic perspective upon the inequality phenomenon with its multi-faceted aspects. The authors analyze capitalism and its main inequalities and question the origin of inequalities, their determinants, and their evolution across the history and nations. Within this context, the authors raise awareness of gender inequality as a component of the inequality concept. The authors undertook a systematic and unsystematic literature review to investigate the concept of inequality with its aspects and the role of capitalism in creating and supporting inequalities. An in-depth analysis was conducted by authors on both inequality and strategy in order to highlight gaps in the knowledge and to indicate trends for further research. Across the centuries there was a range of inequalities within the countries and between different countries, as well as between social categories, between men and women, between rich and poor.

Exports and Female Entrepreneurs

The UK's decision to leave the European Union based on the 2016 referendum has created considerable uncertainty in the UK economy. For UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to survive, export markets may become more important. This chapter examines the impact from the presence of foreign direct investment (FDI). The influence of gender on this relationship has not been previously investigated. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) regression approaches are applied. A negative relationship is found between foreign influence and export propensity and intensity. No evidence is found for female entrepreneurs as a whole being affected to a greater extent. However, female entrepreneurs with less human capital are affected to a greater extent. These findings suggest that when seeking to attract FDI policymakers must be aware of the potential negative consequences. Training offered to the most vulnerable female entrepreneurs in collaboration with foreign affiliates might counter any negative effects to achieve greater positive knowledge spillovers.

The Shift Towards a Digital Business Model

The chapter aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the shift towards a digital business model for the female and male entrepreneur. This shift is analyzed by a ground test theory based on a comparative case study. Two case studies, categorized as small to medium enterprises operating in the creative industry in the city of Turin, Italy, are analyzed against the six dimensions of the business model framework—value proposition, target market, value chain, revenue mechanism, value network, and competitive strategy—and then used as a basis to compare a female and a male digital entrepreneur. As emerged, there is not a remarkable difference between the two entrepreneurs. Both stress the relevance of the digital approach in the aforementioned six dimensions of the digital business model, highlighting the relevance of the “value network” to improve employees' working experience and customers' experience.

Women Entrepreneurship in Turkey as an Emerging Economy

There is a growing body of research conducted on entrepreneurship and the importance of globalization, and its effect on emerging markets also plays a role in excelling entrepreneurial studies. In this chapter, the authors introduce the concept of entrepreneurship and then discuss the trends that are shaping startups and the role of women entrepreneurs in an emerging economy. They lay out the past, current, and future predictions on profiling Turkish women entrepreneurs and will support such prediction with reports. The essential objective of this chapter is to explore the overall position of entrepreneurial conditions for women in Turkey. From this aspect, this chapter may provide a basis for future studies and contribute to related literature and practical studies. The strength of this study is to present some practical projections about this field so that it combines theoretical and practical studies in the past and current with foresights for future.

Tapping Rural Women Entrepreneurship Through Self-Help Micro-Credit

The chapter reveals that women's role in enterprise and household decision making, their access to assets, and control over self-earnings have improved significantly among client and non-client groups. Self-help credit program (SHCP) has facilitated them to make decisions for their personal needs, availing treatment, recreational facilities, and participate independently in household decision making. However, SHCP should incorporate necessary steps to enhance empowerment of women irrespective of their duration in program, types of economic activities, and marital status. In order to transform SHCP into a genuine livelihood diversification and gender strategy, women's empowerment needs to be understood as more than a marginal increase in access to income, and/or consultation in limited areas of enterprise and household decision making and/or occasional meetings with a small group of other women.

Work-Family Balance From Women Technopreneurs' Perspectives

The purpose of this chapter was to explore the lived experience of women technopreneurs in India and to identify challenges and opportunities that they face in the process of balancing work and family life. Establishing technological enterprise as women in the Indian context where they face caste, cultural, and organizational constraints is still a challenge for many. The study is exploratory in nature. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 women technopreneurs selected through snowball sampling method. A thematic analysis of the interview data generated five themes including gender identity, multiple role responsibilities, work challenges, striking a balance, being a role model. Based on the findings, the authors provide implications for research and practice.