Immigrant entrepreneurship and gender dimensions: A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: This paper discusses whether the gender dimension of immigrants influences their entrepreneurial activities in host societies. Human capital theory, social capital theory, and disadvantage theory are used to explore immigrant entrepreneurship and its understanding as a migration research field worthy of more attention.Design/methodology/approach: Based on the systematic analysis of literature and peer-reviewed papers, a comprehensive analytical framework was developed. This framework is provided with an overview to discover the 20 articles written between 2000 and 2021 from different countries are discussed.Findings: It has been found that female immigrant entrepreneurs face many different challenges to sustain their businesses in the host countries, based on their human capital, social-capital, and disadvantage perspectives. Consequently, this research adds to the literature on female immigrants and has practical implications for policymakers and the immigrant community.Social Implications: The implication of this study is that destination countries should do something to improve the human and social capital of female immigrants to decrease the disadvantages they face.Originality/value: In this study, we specifically consider female immigrant enterprises to be as important as male enterprises in the destination countries to support the social and economic integration of migrants. On the other hand, this study also shows the disadvantages female immigrant entrepreneurs face before establishing a business and after starting their entrepreneurial activities.

“When The Crisis Becomes an Opportunity: The Role of Women in The post-Covid Organization”

“…Ricco and Bianchi (Chapter 8) delve deeper by conducting empirical research on the performance of women entrepreneurs during the 2008-2010 crisis; their study found that most women-owned businesses need help to overcome critical phases and tend to experience failure due to limited access to information, capital and government.The discrimination immigrant women face while running businesses is the focus of de Andreis and Rusciani (Chapter 9), who report that immigrant women encounter more significant challenges, not only due to gender-related issues but also stemming from social injustice surrounding their marginalized cultural backgrounds. These findings are consistent with previous research emphasizing the disparities and hurdles immigrant women entrepreneurs face (Sarihasan et al, 2023;Temizkan and Uslu, 2023). De Andreis (Chapter 27) also provides another perspective on discrimination of women in the male-dominated aviation industry.…”

“…The discrimination immigrant women face while running businesses is the focus of de Andreis and Rusciani (Chapter 9), who report that immigrant women encounter more significant challenges, not only due to gender-related issues but also stemming from social injustice surrounding their marginalized cultural backgrounds. These findings are consistent with previous research emphasizing the disparities and hurdles immigrant women entrepreneurs face (Sarihasan et al, 2023;Temizkan and Uslu, 2023). De Andreis (Chapter 27) also provides another perspective on discrimination of women in the male-dominated aviation industry.…”