Gender and entrepreneurship: past achievements and future possibilities

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this short commentary reflects upon how feminist theory might be used to advance the contemporary gendered critique of women’s entrepreneurship. Drawing from gender theory, a diverse and complex critique has arisen to challenge the discriminatory discourse of entrepreneurship that fundamentally disadvantages women. To progress debate, the author suggests that greater attention should be afforded to feminist theories as explanatory analyses for such subordination and particularly to challenge contemporary postfeminist ideas which fuel a false promise of entrepreneurship for women. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual paper drawing upon extant literature to develop suggestions for future research . Findings Conceptual arguments challenging current approaches to analysing the relationship between women, gender and entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications Somewhat controversially, it is suggested that such a critique might encourage us to refocus research such that it challenges, rather than seeks to confirm, the axiom that under current conditions, entrepreneurship is “good” for women and society so ergo, we need more women entrepreneurs. Greater acknowledgement of feminist theory will also facilitate a stronger intersectional analysis, vital if we are to acknowledge how socio-economic and contextual diversity constrains or enables entrepreneurial behaviour. Social implications This article challenges contemporary researchers to reconsider current thinking regarding the value of entrepreneurial activity for women. Originality/value The commentary concludes by identifying how the next generation of scholars might take such ideas forward to build upon established foundations.

Negotiating the female successor–leader role within family business succession in China

“…Third, this article enhances knowledge of family business in a non-Western context by focusing on female business successors in China. It acknowledges the importance of the cultural context and challenges Western-centric assumptions with regard to gender, family and entrepreneurship (Marlow, 2020). There are increasing recognitions that contextual factors affect family's involvement in business (Datta and Gailey, 2012) and gender and leadership identities are socially and culturally situated (Hamilton, 2013).…”

“…We show women engage in intentional visibility as a result of roleidentity conflicts, which derive from contradicting social value systems. Third, we respond to recent calls for a better understanding of 'culture and context' in order to address the Westerncentric bias which currently exists within the broader debate of gender, family and entrepreneurship (Campopiano et al, 2017;Marlow, 2020). We contribute to family business literature by focusing on female business successors in China and in so doing enhance knowledge of the impact of culturally informed gender roles and family heterogeneity on women's involvement in family business in a non-Western context.…”

Emprendimiento social en jóvenes: análisis de su relación con otras formas de participación social

“…Por ejemplo, podría ser interesante analizar las experiencias previas de participación social de las personas que ya han emprendido socialmente y considerar la perspectiva de género. Mientras que las diferencias entre varones y mujeres han sido ampliamente discutidas con relación al emprendimiento comercial (ver por ejemplo, García, Villaseca y González, 2019;Marlow, 2020), apenas han sido analizadas con relación al emprendimiento social (Lewis y Henry, 2019). Dos excepciones son el estudio de Fernández, López y San Martín (2020) y la revisión de Lewis y Henry (2019).…”

Climbing to freedom on an impossible staircase: Exploring the emancipatory potential of becoming an entrepreneur-employer

“…Public policy continues to reinforce the belief that becoming an entrepreneur is a means to achieve neoliberal ideals that entwine the potential for individual emancipation with wider social changes, like reducing unemployment rates (Mallett and Wapshott, 2020). The implicit assumption across much of this literature is that more entrepreneurship is better (Marlow, 2020 At a national level, the UK Government's 'New Enterprise Allowance', offers jobseekers a chance to receive a small government loan to start a business. Promotional material for this national scheme includes promise of a '…potentially life-changing experience.…”

“…Within such a system, entrepreneurship is positioned as a solution to a wide variety of societal problems (Wiklund et al, 2019). There remains an implicit belief that more entrepreneurship is better (Marlow, 2020), and leads to both individual and societal social and economic growth (Fletcher and Seldon, 2016). Indeed, this assumption is reflected in policies encouraging individuals to start and grow an enterprise as a means to a 'potentially life-changing experience' (Department for Work and Pensions, 2020).…”