"Complex, Dynamic and Unique- A Study of Women Social Entrepreneurs and their Identity"

Abstract

Women are increasingly contributing to the field of social entrepreneurship, however research has not kept up to pace with this development. Scholars have also argued that issues related to identity are underexplored in social entrepreneurship research (Dacin, Dacin, & Tracey, 2011). Social entrepreneurs’ desire to create change often relates to their identity (Dees, 2001). Thus it is important to study the role of identity in the lives of women social entrepreneurs. The purpose of the study was to incorporate women’s social entrepreneurs’ perspectives with regards to their identity and explore how they make meaning of their identity. The sample included 11 women social entrepreneurs. Using Seidman’ adapted (2006) two-interview approach (for a total of 21 interviews from 11 participants), findings indicate that women social entrepreneurs embrace complexity of their identity. In discussing their roles as women and social entrepreneurs, they reveal relevance of multiple identities in their lives, which they...