Gender in Management An International Journal

Kalemci Tuzun, Ipek; Araz Takay, Bahar

2017 Gender in Management An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/GM-05-2016-0102

PurposeThis study aims to identify and understand the challenges, motivational factors and future needs of female entrepreneurs in Ankara, Turkey.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the qualitative analysis methodology and uses the qualitative data analysis software, MAXQDA 11. A total of 41 randomly selected female entrepreneurs from the city of Ankara and rural areas of the Ankara region participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. A total of 284 codes were defined.FindingsResults indicate that female entrepreneurs are mostly intrinsically motivated and are driven by the desire to achieve and to become independent. The socially constructed role of women in Turkey is the primary challenge faced by female entrepreneurs in both urban and rural areas. Moreover, the major future needs identified for female entrepreneurs are support from public institutions and access to managerial consultants.Originality/valueThere are limited number of studies that closely examine the characteristics of female entrepreneurship activity and their challenges/motivations in Turkey. This research contributes to the existing literature through its qualitative nature and by highlighting differences in urban and rural female entrepreneurs. Moreover, the results of this study are useful for policy makers to evaluate the future needs of female entrepreneurs and the programs that will be needed to overcome the challenges facing female entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurial process.

Outsios, Georgios; Farooqi, Seemab Ara

2017 Gender in Management An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/GM-12-2015-0111

PurposeExisting research highlights gender as an important dimension for entrepreneurship theory and practice. This study aims to explore the differences between female and male sustainable entrepreneurs in the areas of previous professional experiences, their performance and growth, their use of financial resources and their overall attitude to risk.Design/methodology/approachThrough a feminist perspective and on the basis of empirical evidence gathered through a series of 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with male and female sustainable entrepreneurs in the UK, thr authors analyse differences between male and female sustainable entrepreneurs.FindingsThe findings suggest that female role models play a significant role in the emergence of women sustainable entrepreneurs who start from the same experience levels as men, show strong feminist attitudes and are conscious of their contribution to global sustainability. Sustainable entrepreneurship offers women professional development and a limited flexibility to balance work and family commitments. Lack of funding appears to be a major constraint applying to both female and male participants, while the authors argue that business pragmatism in a difficult investment environment triggered women’s reluctance to take on debt. Nonetheless, female sustainable entrepreneurs were found to have developed and used their professional and social networks to a greater extent than their male counterparts.Originality/valueThis study offers a new gender perspective to the research of sustainable entrepreneurship and, at the same time, contributes with findings from research on sustainable entrepreneurs to the study of gender in management.

Saviano, Marialuisa; Nenci, Luisa; Caputo, Francesco

2017 Gender in Management An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/GM-07-2016-0138

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate women’s financial inclusion as a critical element for the competitiveness of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market for entrepreneurship and sustainable development of the region, as MENA financial institutions’ loans to women-owned SMEs tend to be significantly lower than the share of women-owned SMEs in their target markets. Causes of under-serving this market are not very well studied.Design/methodology/approachThe paper builds on an inductive approach supported by the interpretative contribution offered by the viable systems approach as methodological and interpretative lens to investigate the topic of women financial inclusion in MENA regions. Reflections herein are supported by an exploratory study on the conditions for women financial inclusion in MENA regions.FindingsThe main focus of this paper is to study the financial gap that women entrepreneurs are experiencing in enlarging their businesses and/or lunching innovative projects. In accordance with this, the paper highlights the need of a more systemic approach and long-term vision to support a more extensive women financial inclusion in MENA regions.Originality/valueFinancial institutions’ need to understand women-owned SMEs’ financial needs for innovation and growth to build new customized financial products. This paper’s argument is that the dominant short-term approach to credit-granting for women, although providing support, may be inadequate to achieve a real financial inclusion, and possible causes and solutions are discussed.

Ali, Jabir; Shabir, Sana

2017 Gender in Management An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/GM-09-2016-0159

PurposeThis paper aims toanalyse the difference in business performance and obstacles across male-owned versus female-owned enterprises in India.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a comprehensive enterprise survey of 9,281 Indian firms operating in different regions of the country, conducted under the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey, 2014. The survey contains information on a variety of enterprise characteristics such as ownership, type of firms, size of firms, locations and age, performance indicators and information on 16 parameters of business obstacles. Business performance indicators have been derived from data in the form of growth in sales, employment, labour productivity and capability utilization by gender ownership of the firms. Simple statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, chi-square test and the independent-samples t-test have been used to analyse the data. Further, an ordered probit regression model has been estimated to identify the relative importance of parameters affecting female-owned enterprises.FindingsOf the total 9,281 firms surveyed under the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey, about 8 per cent were being managed by a top female manager and about 15 per cent firms reported to have at least one female owner. Among the female owners, about 36 per cent were reported to own 50 per cent and above share of the firm. Chi-square statistics indicate that there is a significant difference in enterprise characteristics of male- versus female-owned firms in terms of location, size, type and age. Result of the independent-samples t-test indicates a significant difference in business performance across male- and female-owned businesses in terms of annual sales growth, labour productivity growth and capacity utilization of the firms. Similarly, the perception of male- and female-owned firms significantly vary on 10 obstacles out of total 16 business obstacle parameters. Overall, females perceive comparatively less business obstacles as compared to males. An ordered probit regression model has revealed the relative importance of enterprise characteristics, performance indicators and extent of business obstacles among female-owned enterprises.Practical implicationsThis study provides an insight on the differences in the firms’ performance across gender ownership based on a large survey data. This study can be helpful in designing policies for promoting gender-based business enterprises in a focused manner.Originality/valueThere are limited empirical evidences on difference in organizational profile, business performance and understanding business obstacles across male- versus female-owned firms in India based on a large survey data.

Makinde, Olusesan Ayodeji; Onyemelukwe, Cheluchi; Onigbanjo-Williams, Abimbola; Oyediran, Kolawole Azeez; Odimegwu, Clifford Obby

2017 Gender in Management An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/GM-02-2017-0023

PurposeAchieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is the fifth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This continues the effort of the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG), which was “to promote gender equality and empower all women”. In Nigeria, a Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill had been under consideration in the Nigerian Senate since 2010 to be enacted as a Nigerian law as part of effort toward MDG 3. After six years, the Bill was voted out for “lack of merit”. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the outcome.Design/methodology/approachA review of this Bill and the authors’ perceptions of reasons for the decline are subsequently presented.FindingsThere were concerns based on the content of the Bill. It was agreed by members of the Nigerian Senate that the content of the Bill was not in line with the religious and cultural beliefs of most of the Nigerian population and thus, unworthy to be enacted as a Nigerian law.Social implicationsThe review herein provides important analysis of the content of the declined Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill. It reflects the continued patriarchal norms and perception of the superiority of men over women in Nigeria.Originality/valueThe paper provides a bird-view analysis of an unsuccessful Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill in Nigeria. This information is needed for a review of the Bill ahead of possible re-presentation following modifications for discussion.