Gender Dynamics in Entrepreneurial Practices
Summary
Gender dynamics shape multiple dimensions of entrepreneurial activity worldwide. Persistent disparities in access to finance, networks and institutional support often disadvantage women founders. Structural barriers—such as gendered social norms, uneven distribution of domestic responsibilities and discriminatory lending practices—intersect with cultural and economic contexts to influence who can start, sustain and scale business ventures. At the same time, distinct patterns of social capital and collective strategies have emerged, as women entrepreneurs leverage peer networks, community financing schemes and bricolage approaches to resource mobilisation. Research also reveals how formal institutions and educational systems interact with gender-role orientations to shape entrepreneurial intentions, sectoral choices and growth aspirations. Understanding these dynamics is critical for designing policy interventions, support programmes and ecosystem structures that foster inclusive innovation, economic growth and sustainable development.
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Gender Dynamics in Entrepreneurial Practices publication trend
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Technical terms
Entrepreneurial ecosystem: The network of actors, institutions and cultural norms that shapes how entrepreneurship emerges and evolves in a given context.
Gender capital: The resources, skills and social recognition associated with gender identity that influence access to opportunities and networks in entrepreneurship.
Bricolage: The process by which entrepreneurs recombine and repurpose scarce resources through creative problem-solving.
Community financing: A collective mechanism in which group members pool and share financial resources to support business ventures, often based on trust and reciprocity.
Institutional environment: The formal and informal rules, regulations and cultural practices that govern economic activity and shape entrepreneurial behaviour.
References
- Women green entrepreneurship: Conceptualisation and use of bricolage for policy recommendations. Business Strategy and the Environment (2024).
- Community financing in entrepreneurship: A focus on women entrepreneurs in the developing world. Journal of Business Research (2023).
- Stories from the field: women’s networking as gender capital in entrepreneurial ecosystems. Small Business Economics (2018).
- How institutions and gender differences in education shape entrepreneurial activity: a cross-national perspective. Small Business Economics (2018).
- Female entrepreneurship in Asia: a critical review and future directions. Asian Business & Management (2022).
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