Sociocultural factors and female entrepreneurship in Saltillo (Coahuila) and Oaxaca de Juárez (Oaxaca), Mexico 2019-2020

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: Female entrepreneurship is of utmost importance as it contributes to the generation of jobs and to the economic development of countries. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate what are the factors that motivate women to start businesses. The objective of this study was to describe the sociocultural factors and their importance as drivers of female entrepreneurship, as well as the existence of possible differences in these factors among women entrepreneurs in the cities of Saltillo, Coahuila, and Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the global pandemic period by Covid-19. Methodology: Eight sociocultural drivers of female entrepreneurship were analyzed. A questionnaire was administered to 74 female entrepreneurs in Saltillo and 72 in Oaxaca de Juárez. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the most important factors as drivers of entrepreneurship. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U analyses were used to determine possible differences in entrepreneurship factors between the two cities. Results: Family support was the major determinant of entrepreneurship among women in both cities. There is evidence of differences (p < 0.05) between the sociocultural factors that motivated business entrepreneurship of women entrepreneurs in both cities in terms of family background, gender equality, economic dependents, societal recognition, and external support. Conclusions: Women may have similar motives that drive them to start a business, but there may also be some that influence them differently according to the economic, sociocultural context to which they belong.