Is independence really an opportunity? The experience of entrepreneur-mothers

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how entrepreneur-mothers experience independence in the transition to entrepreneurship, and whether they perceive independence as an agentic, opportunity-maximisation motive or a constrained, necessity-driven response. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a qualitative and interpretive approach, the authors analysed interviews with 60 entrepreneur-mothers to refine conceptual understanding of independence. Findings The authors find that entrepreneur-mothers experience independence not as an opportunity, but as a functional necessity in managing the temporal and perceived moral demands of motherhood. The authors assert that there is a fundamental difference between wanting independence to pursue a more autonomous lifestyle, and needing independence to attend to family obligations, a difference that is not adequately captured in the existing conceptualisation of independence. Consequently, the authors propose the classification of “family-driven entrepreneurship” to capture the social and institutional factors that may disproportionately push women with caregiving responsibilities towards self-employment. Practical implications This paper proposes that a new category of entrepreneurial motivation be recognised to better account for the social and institutional factors affecting women’s entrepreneurship, enabling policymakers to more accurately position and support entrepreneur-mothers. Social implications The authors challenge the existing framing of independence as an agentic opportunity-seeking motive, and seek to incorporate family dynamics into existing entrepreneurial models. Originality/value This paper delivers much-needed conceptual refinement of independence as a motivator to entrepreneurship by examining the experiences of entrepreneur-mothers, and proposes a new motivational classification, that of family-driven entrepreneurship to capture the elements of agency and constraint embedded in this transition.

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“…This implies that women are constrained by non-work schedules much more than men and turn to the gig economy as result. This is like previous findings in relation to self-employment, which suggest women leave standard employment because it is not 'familyfriendly' (Foley et al, 2018). Women turning to the gig economy may be 'further testimony to their innovative resourcefulness, a response to the lack of flexibility in the workplace, which proffers a range of obstructions to getting the job done' (Gregg, 2011: 54).…”

“…They are more likely than men to be overqualified for their positions (Risse, 2018) and, to juggle work and family, many accept occupational downgrading and insecurity as a trade-off for shorter hours and schedule control (Charlesworth et al, 2011). For example, some turn to self-employment explicitly because it potentially offers more flexibility and control over their work timing than organisational employment (Foley et al, 2018). However, flexibility is not necessarily a benefit to women as it is often held up by policy-makers and researchers.…”

Working and Caring at Home: Gender Differences in the Effects of Covid-19 on Paid and Unpaid Labor in Australia

“…Women are disproportionately in lower paid positions, which underutilize their education and skill levels (Charlesworth and Macdonald 2015), in the care sector (73 percent), retail (55 percent), and accommodation/food services (54 percent; ABS 2018). Expensive childcare and thin work-care reconciliation measures encourage others to become self-employed, often explicitly to be able to work from home and care for children more flexibly (Foley et al 2018).…”

Decision Making Capability, Social Capital Towards Iwapi Social Support in South Sulawesi Province.

“…This is influenced by the high level of dependence of women in the family (husband) and social structure. Foley et al, (2018) explored in his research that entrepreneur-mother experienced independence highly motivated not as an opportunity, but to fulfill functional needs in managing moral demands as a mother and emphasized that entrepreneurship driven by family factors would encourage women to become entrepreneurs independent.…”

“…Women in entrepreneurship get encouragement from the family to make women have independence in entrepreneurship. Foley et al (2018) states that entrepreneurship driven by family factors will encourage women to become independent entrepreneurs. Family encouragement such as motivation that comes from a husband, child and closest family can provide a special enthusiasm for women in entrepreneurship.…”