The everyday female entrepreneur and the pursuit of emancipation

• Published in: International journal of entrepreneurial behaviour & research 2024-11, Vol.30 (10), p.2731-2755
• Main Authors: Pergelova, Albena, Mandakovic, Vesna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Empowerment; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Females; Women; Women owned businesses
• ISSN: 1355-2554; 1758-6534
• DOI: 10.1108/IJEBR-12-2023-1293

PurposeThis study takes an “entrepreneurship as emancipation” perspective to study entrepreneurs defined as “others” on multiple categories: women entrepreneurs whose ventures are necessity-based, bootstrapped and located in economically impoverished areas (neighborhoods) in two Latin-American countries: Chile and Peru.Design/methodology/approachThe study takes an interpretivist research approach and analyses inductively interviews with women entrepreneurs.FindingsThe findings reveal how everyday practices in pursuit of emancipation – while conducted within the existing patriarchal social structure – push the boundaries and contribute to changes in the social system via a variety of outcomes such as intergenerational social mobility, personal fulfilment and strengthening the communities in which the women entrepreneurs operate. Furthermore, while the authors find that in the particular Latin-American context under study, entrepreneuring activities become an emancipatory possibility for the everyday women entrepreneurs, they also highlight a “dark side” of their emancipatory projects.Originality/valueThe study contributes to recent critical studies in entrepreneurship by demonstrating the diversity and importance of the “mundane” activities undertaken by “necessity-based” entrepreneurs, and the significant – yet underappreciated – reach of their ventures’ impact on issues well beyond economic considerations.