Abstract
Purpose:
A significant portion of current research on female entrepreneurship has primarily focused on Western contexts, inadvertently neglecting other settings, particularly those characterised by uncertainty and resource constraints. In this paper, the authors offer unique insights into the opportunities and challenges of rural female entrepreneurship, presenting it as a strategic initiative to enhance the contextual understanding of Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs and the unique environments in which they operate.
Design/methodology/approach:
Using face-to-face interviews with 18 female entrepreneurs operating in the rural areas of Dhaka, Rangpur, and Khulna City of Bangladesh, the authors deploy a range of qualitative methods to understand how context might have effects on the attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and performance of the participants.
Findings:
The empirical findings underscore several key factors which were found to impact the development of female entrepreneurs which are primarily rooted in gender-related issues. These include the intersectionality of women, poverty alleviation, limited family support, restricted access to finance, gender inequality, cultural and social discrimination, corruption, weak institutional support, and a lack of governmental backing.
Research Limitations/Implications:
From a policy perspective, the authors identify several areas where interventions would be highly beneficial. This study contributes to the field of rural entrepreneurship concerning Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs, by examining issues about contexts that have been largely neglected.
Originality/Value:
The results facilitate a better understanding of how female entrepreneurs navigate many of the contextual challenges limiting entrepreneurship from a South Asian perspective. The study provides unique directions regarding areas of possible future research on rural female entrepreneurship from a contextual perspective, which might interest scholars in the entrepreneurship area.
A significant portion of current research on female entrepreneurship has primarily focused on Western contexts, inadvertently neglecting other settings, particularly those characterised by uncertainty and resource constraints. In this paper, the authors offer unique insights into the opportunities and challenges of rural female entrepreneurship, presenting it as a strategic initiative to enhance the contextual understanding of Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs and the unique environments in which they operate.
Design/methodology/approach:
Using face-to-face interviews with 18 female entrepreneurs operating in the rural areas of Dhaka, Rangpur, and Khulna City of Bangladesh, the authors deploy a range of qualitative methods to understand how context might have effects on the attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and performance of the participants.
Findings:
The empirical findings underscore several key factors which were found to impact the development of female entrepreneurs which are primarily rooted in gender-related issues. These include the intersectionality of women, poverty alleviation, limited family support, restricted access to finance, gender inequality, cultural and social discrimination, corruption, weak institutional support, and a lack of governmental backing.
Research Limitations/Implications:
From a policy perspective, the authors identify several areas where interventions would be highly beneficial. This study contributes to the field of rural entrepreneurship concerning Bangladeshi female entrepreneurs, by examining issues about contexts that have been largely neglected.
Originality/Value:
The results facilitate a better understanding of how female entrepreneurs navigate many of the contextual challenges limiting entrepreneurship from a South Asian perspective. The study provides unique directions regarding areas of possible future research on rural female entrepreneurship from a contextual perspective, which might interest scholars in the entrepreneurship area.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Entrepreneurship and the Dynamics of Contexts |
| Subtitle of host publication | Contemporary Issues and Challenges |
| Editors | Ibeyemi Omeihe, King Omeihe, Alan Murray |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 5 Nov 2024 |
Keywords
- rural entrepreneurship
- entrepreneurship
- female entrepreneurs
- context
- sustainable livelihood framework
- Bangladesh
- emerging economy
