Cultural Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Iran

Modarresi, Meisam; Arasti, Zahra

doi:10.1108/978-1-80071-326-020211013

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In a similar vein, it has been contended that non‐Western developing nations can offer opportunities to generate unique insights on diversified social factors in exerting idiosyncratic impact on challenges due to the differences in two different contexts, for instance, gender issues of these regions (Jamali et al, 2020, 2021). The scant literature on women's entrepreneurial behaviour and activities in developing countries (Ahmad & Naimat, 2011; Alexandre & Kharabsheh, 2019; Danish & Smith, 2012; Jaim, 2021a, 2021b, 2022a; Modarresi & Arasti, 2021) has already marked notable contributions by explaining distinct insights on gender subordination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subjugation by superstition: Gender, small business and family in Bangladesh

Jaim

2023

Business Ethics Env & Resp

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This feminist research explores how superstition is used by in‐law's family to subordinate women business‐owners in a highly patriarchal developing context. Whereas the exploration of gender subordination regarding women's entrepreneurship is almost exclusively confined to developed nations, little is known regarding the way women are subjugated in managing their small businesses in a patriarchal developing nation. This research generates data by conducting a case study on a woman's business in Bangladesh. This study yields unique insights by unfolding a specific form of superstition that attempts to restrain a woman from continuing her small business. The paper reveals that the male relative caused a severe adverse impact on the personal life and business of the woman by employing superstition. With particular reference to superstition, this feminist study substantially extends the theoretical understanding of gender subordination within the context of small businesses of women in a highly patriarchal developing nation. The research strongly suggests policymakers to consider familial issues of women business‐owners in designing programmes to empower them effectively.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subjugation by superstition: Gender, small business and family in Bangladesh

Jaim

2023

Business Ethics Env & Resp

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“…In general, women's involvement and participation in entrepreneurial activities has recently increased (Elam et al, 2019). Women owners of businesses have always faced challenges associated with gender roles and discrimination which hinder their developmental opportunities limiting their growth (Modarresi, & Arasti, 2021). Women's entrepreneurship rectifies economic discrepancy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If females are not empowered to become economically self-supporting, they will remain dependent on males and that dependency hinders the development of families and countries at large. Women entrepreneurs play a vital role especially in developing countries (Ogundana, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges deterring the progress of women small-scale entrepreneurs in Rwanda

Bazubagira,

Umumararungu

2023

IJRBS

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The research assesses the challenges deterring the progress of women’s small-scale businesses in Rwanda. It was guided by the following specific objectives: identify challenges faced by women’s small-scale businesses in Rwanda and assess how those challenges affect women’s small-scale businesses' progress. Findings were collected from 109 respondents who have been running small-scale businesses over a period ranging from one to three years. Results were collected through a questionnaire and desk review and quantitatively analyzed. The findings shed light on the challenges which small-scale women entrepreneurs face namely family expenses (53.2%), drunkenness (67%), family conflicts (93.6%), financial illiteracy (100%), and poverty (100%). The above-mentioned challenges affect small-scale businesses in that women entrepreneurs find themselves mixing up businesses and family expenses. Family conflicts were also highlighted to be another cause of business failure in that women who conflict with their husbands cannot easily prosper in their businesses. In addition, financial illiteracy makes them unable to assess their profit and find their businesses stagnant or closing. Thus, there is a need to provide support to small-scale businesswomen about how to assess business progress, and calculate their interest rate so that they may come up with financial skills. This would enable them to align their daily family expenses with their business interest. Once properly implemented, it would decrease the business failure rate.

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“…Although studies of women entrepreneurship in Iran are limited (Sarfaraz and Faghih, 2011), few studies have confirmed gender inequality in Iranian women entrepreneurship. Gender discrimination, gender stereotypes, cultural context and social traditions of the Iranian society (Javadian and Singh, 2012; Modarresi and Arasti, 2021), male-dominated workspaces (Modarresi et al , 2017), lack of access to economic resources, inefficient and discriminatory administrative and judicial institutions, gender segregation in the labor market (Bahramitash and Esfahani, 2016) and lack of access to senior executive and managerial positions (Halimi et al , 2011) are some of the examples of this concern in the Iranian society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lived experiences of successful women entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Iran: a feminist phenomenological study

Sadrnabavi

Daneshvar²

2022

QRFM

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Purpose This study aims to investigate the entrepreneurial actions of successful Iranian women entrepreneurs. It is an attempt to find the roots, motivations, challenges and strategies of successful actions of these women, despite the unequal and masculine structure of the society. Design/methodology/approach This research was conducted through the theoretical framework of poststructuralist feminism and the qualitative method. By purposive sampling, the researchers selected 10 women entrepreneurs living in Khorasan Razavi province for in-depth interviews. These women have created many jobs based on local potential and become recognized as top entrepreneurs. The narratives of these women were analyzed phenomenologically. Findings The actions of these women are fertilized under the influence of family background and early socialization and in the combination of internal motivations and external stimuli. These women resist social barriers such as widespread patriarchy, gender division of labor in society and complex bureaucratic processes through the “strategic cycle” resulting from the interaction of “reliance on intertwined social networks,” “social entrepreneurship,” “gradual formation of social capital” and “reliance on local potentials.” Social implications The strategies to overcome gender inequalities at the micro (family) and macro (society) levels introduced in this research can inspire women entrepreneurs who seek success in their businesses. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative research that, by studying the actions of successful Iranian women entrepreneurs, describes how they overcome structural inequalities and their success strategies.

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Cultural Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Iran

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Subjugation by superstition: Gender, small business and family in Bangladesh

Subjugation by superstition: Gender, small business and family in Bangladesh

Challenges deterring the progress of women small-scale entrepreneurs in Rwanda

Lived experiences of successful women entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Iran: a feminist phenomenological study

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