Women entrepreneurship, intersectionality, and networks in firm performance.

James, Imaobong; Ibukun, Tolulope

Abstract

Research on African women entrepreneurs operating micro and small businesses demonstrates how the agency in enterprising works gender and identity through social capital that fosters businesses. It showed that the shared "otherness" of gender is accompanied by a shared sense of responsibility and social obligation. In time, this spilt over into bridging social capital and connecting to the wider community. Social capital may depend on frequent interaction and proximity, and both are difficult during isolation and social distancing. The COVID-19 crisis thus works as a stress test for adopting digital resources and utilising social relations and resources. Drawing on the network and social capital theories, this study examines how women construct gender and identity differently and how network resources mediate entrepreneurial performance. This study focussed on internal and external networks to explain how women-owned businesses operate as networks influence how organisations are nurtured, managed and sustained.

Citation

JAMES, I. and IBUKUN, T. 2023. Women entrepreneurship, intersectionality, and networks in firm performance. Presented at the 13th International interdisciplinary conference on gender, work and organization (GWO 2023): marginalised gender identities: how can intellectual activism transform work and organization, 28-30 June 2023, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

• Presentation Conference Type: Lecture
• Conference Name: 13th International interdisciplinary conference on gender, work and organization (GWO 2023)
• Conference Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
• Start Date: Jun 28, 2023
• End Date: Jun 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 15, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 15, 2023
• Keywords: Social resourcing; Gender; Digital engagement; Networks; Crisis
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2078909
• Publisher URL: https://tinyurl.com/sefnj3cf
• Additional Information: The file accompanying this output contains the extended abstract as published in the book of abstracts, available from https://tinyurl.com/sefnj3cf, and the slides used in the presentation, which have been incorporated into a single file on this repository.