Reformulating the empowerment process through women entrepreneurship in a collective context.

Ng, Poh Yen; Wood, Bronwyn P.; Bastian, Bettina Lynda

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop an empirically informed framework to analyze women empowerment and entrepreneurship, contextualized within a collective society. The authors conducted 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs located in the United Arab Emirates to understand their entrepreneurial experiences and how they were empowered. Findings suggest that the three aspects of power characterized as "positive" from within Rowlands' distinctions ("power to", "power with" and "power within") dominate, as opposed to those emphasized in the literature ("power to" and "power over"). Findings include empowerment of the "me" (individual) also synergistically contributes to empowerment of the "we" (society), when considering empowerment within a collective society. A psychology model was used as a basis to develop a Collective Empowerment Process Framework. This framework provides a fresh look at empowerment, allowing for explanations of how women in specific contexts experience empowerment and social change.

Citation

NG, P.Y., WOOD, B.P. and BASTIAN, B.L. 2022. Reformulating the empowerment process through women entrepreneurship in a collective context. International journal of entrepreneurial behavior and research [online], 28(9), pages 154-176. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2021-0479

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 12, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 27, 2022
• Publication Date: Dec 19, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Journal: International journal of entrepreneurial behavior and research
• Print ISSN: 1355-2554
• Electronic ISSN: 1758-6534
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 154-176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-06-2021-0479
• Keywords: Women entrepreneurs; Gender; Empowerment; Collective context
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1887763