JOURNAL OF BUSINESS DIVERSITY

Influences of Gender Labelling of Entrepreneurship on the Entrepreneurial Career

Aspirations of Educated Women in Bangladesh – A Comparative

Study of Employed Women and Housewives

Author(s): Afreen Huq

Citation: Afreen Huq, (2012) "Influences of Gender Labelling of Entrepreneurship on the Entrepreneurial Career Aspirations of Educated Women in Bangladesh – A Comparative Study of Employed Women and Housewives," Journal of Business Diversity, Vol.12, Iss. 3, pp. 54 - 66

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

The notion of how gender labelling of entrepreneurship impacts upon entrepreneurial aspirations of the growing group of educated, urban based women in developing economies have been unrecognised in entrepreneurship literature. Drawing on the “5M” framework suggested by Brush, Bruin and Welter (2009), this study explores factors affecting entrepreneurial career aspirations of educated urban women in Bangladesh, where society’s notions of impropriety often keep women off certain occupations including entrepreneurship. In-depth interviews were conducted with 72 “potential” women entrepreneurs, consisting of 35 employed women and 37 housewives. Findings reveal that socio-cultural and institutional contexts play important role in influencing women’s perception and aspiration about business-ownership.