A Critical Review of the Concepts Associated with Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Areas

Abstract

The aim of the research was to critically review concepts associated with women entrepreneurs in rural areas in the Mpumalanga Province of the Republic of South Africa. This study was underpinned by a conceptual model developed by Howie (2003) on effectiveness in order to foreground possible factors influencing entrepreneurship in rural areas. A positivist-interpretive quantitative research approach was employed for the purpose of conducting this study. A structured questionnaire, as a data collection technique, was used to collect the women’s opinions. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize, organize and reduce large numbers of observations extricated from the participants’ questionnaires. It has been established in this study that through much of its history, rural South Africa has been home to small-town merchants, talented crafts people and progressive farmers, all willing to take the risks necessary to build their business and live the life of their choice. Business success often depends on the existence of an enabling environment on one hand and the possession of skills and competencies by the entrepreneur on the other. The general lack of planning for resources by rural women entrepreneurs is a great contributing factor to the development of rural women entrepreneurs in rural regions. There is a need for encouraging active participation among rural women into business as they form key targets for economic development in rural areas. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2263