Vol. 2 No. 2 (2016)
September 2016: Entrepreneurship: Antecedents and Effects

Articles

Feminist theory and its influence on female entrepreneur’s growth intentions

Published 2016-10-19

  • Rabi Sidi Ali

Rabi Sidi Ali
University of Leipzig

Abstract

Existing results suggest that entrepreneurs vary considerably in their intentions to grow their businesses; that men have more success in pursing growth than women. Prior investigations on entrepreneurship also suggest female business owners might deliberately choose to keep their business from growing. However, these studies have been conducted in developed countries. Diversity in context and theories could vary by gender, business sectors and regions of the world. Scholars maintain that feminist perspectives theories are necessary to provide some insights in understanding the phenomena. The goal of this paper is to analyse research findings on the growth aspirations of the female entrepreneurs and offer alternative views of understanding, by employing feminist theories, in explaining why women behave differently in their adaptation of reduced growth intentions. In an attempt to understand the tendencies that might lead to reduced growth intentions in female entrepreneurship, literature was extensively reviewed on female entrepreneurship and growth intentions. The study uses a desk-based approach to data collection. An overview of the main issues concerning female entrepreneurs growth intentions is presented. The conclusions drawn from the literature provide foundations for policy measures assisting women to overcome their low growth aspirations and measures required to encourage women to grow their businesses. The paper identifies research gaps that continue to exist in female entrepreneurs growth intentions research with the aim of encouraging further research in this field.

Keywords

female entrepreneurs, growth intentions, feminist theories

PDF

References

  1. Ahl, H. (2006). Why Research on Women’s Enterprise Needs New Direction. Entrepre-neurship, Theory and Practice, 30(5), 595-621.
  2. Ahl, H., & Marlow, S. (2012). Exploring the Dynamics of Gender, Feminism and Entre-preneurship: Advancing Debate to Escape a Dead End. Organization, 19(5), 543-562.
  3. Black, N. (1989). Social feminism. New York, NY: Cornell University Press.
  4. Bosma, N., Van Praag, M., & De Wit, G. (2000). Determinants of Successful Entrepre-neurship. Research report. Retrieved from: http://ondernemerschap.panteia.nl/pdf-ez/h200002.pdf (15.01.2016).
  5. Bird, B.J. (1989). Entrepreneurial Behavior. Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman.
  6. Birley, S. (1989). Female Entrepreneurs: Are They Really Any Different? Journal of Small Business Management, 27(1), 32-37.
  7. Brush, C. (1992). Research on Women Business Owners: Past Trends and New Perspec-tive and Future Direction. Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice, 16(4), 5-30.
  8. Brush, C., & Bird, B. (2002). A Gendered Perspective on Organizational Creation. Entre-preneurship Theory and Practice, 26(3), 41-66.
  9. Brush, C. (2006). Women Entrepreneurs: A Research Overview. In: A. Basu, M. Casson, B. Yeung & N. Wadesdon (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  10. Brush, C.G., Carter, N.M., Gatewood, E.J., Greene, P.G. & Hart, M. (Eds.), (2006). Diana Project International: Growth Oriented Women Entrepreneurs and their Businesses. Cheltenham: Edward F. Elgar.
  11. Buttner, H., & Rosen, B. (1992). Rejection in Loan Application Process: Male and Female Entrepreneurs: Perceptions and Subsequent Intentions. Journal of Small Business Management, 30(1), 59-65.
  12. Calás, M. B., Smircich, L., & Bourne, K. A. (2009). Extending the Boundaries’ Reframing ‘Entrepreneurship as a Social Change Through Feminist Perspectives. Academy of Management Review, 34(3), 552-569.
  13. Galloway, L., Kapasi, I., & Sang, K. (2015). Entrepreneurship, leadership and the value of feminist approaches to understanding them. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(3), 683-697.
  14. Carter, S., & Cannon, T. (1992). Women as Entrepreneurs. London: Academic Press
  15. Center for Women’s Business Research (2006). Women-owned Businesses in the United States. Retrieved from: http://www.Cfwbr.org/assets,factsheet/pdf (15.01.2016).
  16. Chaganti, R. (1986). Management in Women-Owned Enterprises. Journal of Small Busi-ness Management, 24(4), 18-29.
  17. Cliff, J.E. (1998). Does one Size Fit All? Exploring the Relationship Between Attitudes Towards Growth, Gender, and Business Size. Journal of Business Venturing, 13(6), 523-542.
  18. Cooper, A. (1993). Challenges in Predicting New Firm Performance. Journal of Business Venturing, 8(3), 241-253.
  19. Davidsson, P., Achtenhagen, L., & Naldi, L. (2010). Small Firm Growth. Foundations and Trends in Entrepreneurship, 6(2), 69-166.
  20. Dobbs, M., & Hamilton, R.T. (2007). Small Business Growth: Recent Evidence and New Directions. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior and Research, 3(5), 296-322.
  21. Drucker, P. (1995). Managing in a Time of Great Change. London: BCA.
  22. Dutta, D.K., & Thornhill, S. (2008). The Evolution of Growth Intention: Toward a Cogni-tive-Based Model. Journal of Business Venturing, 23(3), 307-322.
  23. Fasci, M., & Valdez, J. (1998). A Performance Contrast of Male and Female owned Small Accounting practices, Journal of Small Business Management, 36(3), 1-7.
  24. Fatoki, O.O. (2013). The Determinant of Immigrant Entrepreneur’s Growth Expectation in South Africa. Journal of Social Science, 37(3), 209-216.
  25. Fini, R., Grimaldi, R., & Sobrero, M. (2009). Factors Fostering Academics to Start-up New Ventures. An Assessment of Italian Founders’ Incentives. Journal of Technology Transfer, 34, 380-402.
  26. Fischer, E.M., Reuber A.R., & Dyke, L.S. (1993). A Theoretical Overview and Extension of Research on Sex, Gender and Entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 8(2), 151-168.
  27. Franco, M., & Matos, P. (2013). Leadership Styles in SMEs: A Mixed-Method Approach. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 11(2), 425-451.
  28. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2004). UK National Report. Retrieved from: www.Gemoconsotium.org (15.01.2016).
  29. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2011). The women’s Report 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.gmconsortium.org (15.01.2016).
  30. Goffee, R., & Scase, R. (1985). Business Ownership and Women’s Subordination: A Preliminary Study of Female Proprietors. Sociological Review, 31(4), 625-648.
  31. Gundry, L.K., & Welsch, H.P. (2001). The Ambitious Entrepreneurs: High Growth Strategies of Women-Owned Enterprises. Journal of Business Venturing, 16(5), 453-470.
  32. Hisrich, R.D., & Brush, C. (1983). The Woman Entrepreneurs: Impact on Family, Educa-tional and Occupational Experience. In: J. Hornaday, J.A. Timmons & K. Vesper (Eds.), Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research. Babson Park, MA: Babson College.
  33. Hisrich, R.D., & Drnovsek, M. (2002). Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research – a European perspective. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 9(2), 172-222.
  34. Holmquist, C., & Sundin, E. (2002). Företagerskan: Omkvinnor och Entreprenörskap. Stockholm: SNS Förlag.
  35. Jacobson, M. (1993). Essential Values and Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Women Formerly Managers in a Corporate Setting. Doctoral Thesis, Union Institute, Cin-cinnati, OH.
  36. Kalleberg, A., & Leicht, K. (1991). Gender and Organizational Performance: Determinants of Small Business Survival and Success. Academy of Management Journal, 34(1), 136-161.
  37. Kolvereid, L. (1992). Growth Aspirations Among Norwegian Entrepreneurs. Journal of Business Venturing, 7(3), 209-222.
  38. Lee-Gosselin, H., & Grise, J. (1990). Are Women Owner-Managers Challenging our Definition of Entrepreneurship? An In-depth Study. Journal of Business Ethics, 9(4/5), 423-433.
  39. Lerner, M., Brush, C., & Hisrich, R. (1997). Israel Women Entrepreneurs: An Examination of Factors Affecting Performance. Journal of Business Venturing, 12(4), 315-339.
  40. Locke, E. (1991). The Motivation Sequence, the Motivation Hub, and the Motivation Core. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Process, 50(2), 288-299.
  41. Loscocco, K.A., Robinson, J., Hall, R.H., & Allen, J.K. (1991). Gender and Small Business Success: An Inquiry into Women’s Relative Disadvantage. Social Forces, 10(2), 65-85
  42. Minniti, M., Arenius, P., & Lagowitz, N. (2005). Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 2004 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship. Bobson Park and London: Bobson College and London Business School.
  43. Minniti, M., & Naùde W. A. (2010). What do we know about the patterns and determi-nants of female entrepreneurship across countries? European Journal of Develop-ment Research, 22(3), 277-293.
  44. Mitchelle, B. (2004). Motives of Entrepreneurs: A case of South Africa. The Journal of Entrepreneurship, 13(2), 167-193.
  45. Morris, H.M., Miyasaki, N., Watters, C.E., & Coombes, S.M. (2006). The Dilemma Of Growth: Understanding Venture Size Choices of Women Entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business Management, 44(2) 221-244.
  46. Neider, L. (1987). A Preliminary Investigation of Female entrepreneurs in Florida. Journal of Small Business Management, 25(3), 22-28.
  47. Neneh, B.N., & Vanzyl, J. (2014). Growth Intention and its Impact on Business Growth Amongst SMEs in South Africa. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(20), 172-182.
  48. OECD (1998). Women Entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Enterprises. Paris: OECD.
  49. Orser, B., & Hogarth-Scott, S. (2002). Opting for Growth: Gender Dimension of Choosing Enterprise Development. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 19(3), 284-300.
  50. Petterson, K. (2004). Masculine Entrepreneurship-The Gnösjö “Discourse in a feminist Perspective”. In: D. Hjorth & C. Steyaert (Eds.), Narrative and Discursive Ap-proaches in Entrepreneurship (pp. 177-193). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
  51. Richardson, P., Howarth, R., & Finnegan, G. (2004). The Challenges of Growing Small Businesses: insights from Women Entrepreneurs in Africa. Geneva: International Labour Office.
  52. Sarri, K., & Trihopoulou, A. (2005). Female Entrepreneur’s Personal Characteristics and Motivation: A review of the Greek situation. Women in Management Review, 20(1), 24-36.
  53. Scott, C.E. (1986). Why More Women are Becoming Entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business Management, 24(4), 37-45.
  54. Sexton, D. (1989). Research in Women Business Owners In: O. Hajen, C. Rivchun & D.L. Sexton (Eds.), Women Owned Business. New York: Praeger.
  55. Steinholm, P. (2011). Innovative Behavior as a Moderator of Growth Intention. Journal of Small Business Management, 49(2), 233-251.
  56. Stevenson, L.A. (1986). Against All Odds: The Entrepreneurship of Women. Journal of Small Business Management, 24(4), 30-36.
  57. Still, L.V., & Timms, W. (2000). Women’s Business: The Flexible Alternative Work Style for Women. Women in Management Review, 15(6), 272-282.
  58. Stoner, C.R., Hartman, R.I., & Arora, R. (1990). Work/Family Conflict: A Study of Women in Management. Journal of Applied Business Research, 7(1), 67-74.
  59. Terjesen, S., & Szerb, L. (2008). Dice thrown from the Beginning: An empirical Investi-gation of Determinants of Firm Level Growth Expectations. Estudios de Economia, 35(2), 153-178.
  60. Toivonen, J., Steinholm, P., & Heinonen, J. (2006). Different Conditions of Growth - Finnish SMEs in Focus. In: J. Heinonen (Eds.), The nature and elements of growth (pp. 122-137). Turku: Turku School of Economics.
  61. Unger, R., & Crawford, M. (1992). Women and Gender: A Feminist Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  62. University of Dares Salaam Entrepreneurship Center (2002). Jobs, Gender and Small Enterprises in Africa: Women Enterprises in Tanzania. A Preliminary Report, Ge-neva ILO. IFP/ SEED –WEDGE, October.
  63. Verheul, I., Risseeuw, P., & Bartelse, G. (2001). Gender Differences in Strategy and Hu-man Resource Management. International Small Business Journal, 20(4), 443-476.
  64. Verheul, I.A., & Thurik, R. (2006). Explaining Female and Male Entrepreneurship at the Country Level. Erasmus Research Institute of Management. Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
  65. Watson, J., & Robinson, S. (2003). Adjusting for Risk in Comparing the Performance of Male and Female-Controlled SMEs. Journal of Business Venturing, 18(6), 773-788.
  66. Welter, F. (2006). Women’s Entrepreneurship in Germany. In: C.G. Brush, N.M. Carter, E.J. Gatewood, P.G. Greene & M. Hart (Eds.), Diana Project International: Growth-Oriented Women Entrepreneurs and their Businesses. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
  67. Welter, F., Smallbone, D., & Isakova, E. (2006). Female Entrepreneurship in Transition Economies: The case of Lithuanian and Ukraine. Feminist Economics, 13(2), 157-183.
  68. Wiklund, J., Davidsson, P., & Delmer, F. (2003). What do they think and feel about Growth? Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 27(3), 247-269.
  69. Wiklund, J., & Shepherd, D. (2003). Aspiring For, and Achieving Growth: The Moderating Role of Resources and Opportunities. Journal of Management Studies, 40(8), 1919-1941.
  70. Zapalska, A. (1997). Profiles of Polish Entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Man-agement, April, 111-117.
  71. Zwede and Associates (2002). Jobs, Gender, and Small Enterprises in Africa: Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia. A preliminary Report, Geneva, ILO, IFD/SEED-WEDGE.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

61-70 of 93

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.