Intersectional digital barriers for African women entrepreneurs in Scotland

Digitalisation is framed as enabling inclusive entrepreneurship; however, its benefits are unevenly distributed. This study examines how digital platforms shape the entrepreneurial experiences of African women in Scotland using intersectional theory. Drawing on 35 semi-structured interviews, the findings show that digital tools support visibility, flexibility and customer engagement, but participation remains stratified by race, gender, migration status, digital skills and care responsibilities. Digital visibility can also intensify discrimination, particularly through accent, names and identity markers. The study argues that digital entrepreneurship both enables and constrains inclusion, highlighting the need to understand digital participation as socially embedded rather than empowering.