Entrepreneuring as an everyday form of resistance

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to problematise the dominant conceptualisation of entrepreneurship by recognising the everyday resistance inherent in mundane entrepreneurial practices. Its principle purpose is to show how entrepreneurial activities enacted by ordinary individuals in a marginalised and oppressed context can be an important means of resisting economic adversity, social marginalisation and political (colonial) domination. Design/methodology/approach Framed within de Certeau’s conceptualisation of the practices of everyday life, this study utilises a “focussed ethnography”, relying on “participant observation” and “informal interviews”, to explore the perceptions and experiences of Palestinian women street vendors, and how they use everyday entrepreneurial practices in the open-air market of the Old City of Jerusalem to become socially and politically empowered. Findings The arguments in this paper demonstrate how marginalised Palestinian women, who are equipped with a genuine critical vision of their reality and a biophiliac attitude, use entrepreneuring to enact new possibilities for themselves and for their families. Through their entrepreneurial act of street vending, these women exemplify a struggle against economic and socio-political constraints, transforming the act of entrepreneuring from a mere economic practice to an all-encompassing human project, one with a more human face. Originality/value This paper extends the argument for the complex and dynamic nature of the phenomenon and exposes its political nature, hitherto inadequately addressed in existing literature, as well as uncovers the potential of entrepreneurialism to enhance individual empowerment and contribute to meaningful social change. In addition, it addresses the need for scholarly work that focuses on the everyday entrepreneurial activities carried out by ordinary individuals experiencing various forms of oppression in new and challenging spaces, which are seldom acknowledged within the dominant theoretical and research frameworks.

“Stuck in the middle of what?”: the pursuit of academic careers by mothers and non-mothers in higher education institutions in occupied Palestine

“…Although it bears a resemblance to other countries in the Arab MENA region and throughout the world, occupied Palestine represents a peculiar case of 70 years of political struggle that continues to take its toll on Palestinians. Velloso (1996) suggested that Palestinian women are faced with three interweaving layers of structural complexity-signaling the metanarratives of patriarchy, religion, and politics-that largely shape their opportunities, choices, and entire life situations both at home and at work (Granerud 2012;Sabella and El-Far 2019;Sultan 2016).…”

“…First, in contrast to Ramsay and Letherby's (2006) specific concern with the experiences of academic non-mothers, this study explores the narratives of both mothers and non-mothers and demonstrates how the institutionalized practices found within both the university and household spheres shape women academics' experiences, irrespective of their social status. Second, by investigating the experiences of academic mothers and non-mothers embedded within the Palestinian context, this study adds to the very limited body of literature on women academics working in turbulent and marginalized societies, especially those defined by colonialism, oppression, patriarchy, and conservatism-like occupied Palestine-who have to deal with the additional constraints associated with a prolonged colonial occupation and the resultant socio-economic disadvantages (Granerud 2012;Rought-Brooks et al 2010;Sabella and El-Far 2019). Finally, and in spite of the formidable evidence substantiating the deterring effect of motherhood and the household upon women academics' career progression (Raddon 2002;Ramsay and Letherby 2006;Wolf-Wendel and Ward 2006), this study attempts to explore unorthodox interpretations of the notion of motherhood and its influence.…”

Women's entrepreneurship in developing countries from a family perspective: Past and future

“…To maintain gender conformity, the role of husbands is not only considered natural, but also expected in that society (Constantinidis et al, 2019). In the old city of Jerusalem, although traditionally Palestinian women are not expected to be exposed to the outside world, husbands are found to help them in street vending while the family is struggling with socio-political and economic challenges (Sabella & El-Far, 2019). Additionally, many men encourage their wives to engage in entrepreneurship in Pakistan to support the economic development of the country (Lindvert et al, 2017).…”

La resistencia en los estudios organizacionales: una revisión de literatura

“…Se encuentran aquí investigaciones sobre el trabajo en equipo (van den Broek et al, 2008), voluntario (O'Toole & Grey, 2016) y no remunerado (Baines, 2004). De la misma forma, incluyen investigaciones sobre el papel emancipatorio de ciertas formas de emprendimiento Estudios Organizacionales (Sabella & El-Far, 2019) y sobre el potencial del liderazgo para movilizar la resistencia colectiva en el lugar del trabajo (Zoller & Fairhurst, 2007).…”