The Ripple Effect of Artisan Entrepreneurship for Women: Conceptual Model and Research Agenda

Abstract

This paper shines a light on women artisan entrepreneurs and examines the often-overlooked role they play in establishing and maintaining resilient communities in developing countries. While women’s empowerment and opportunities through entrepreneurship has received significant attention through the lens of sustainable development and poverty alleviation, little scholarship has examined the unique attributes of the artisan sector, the second largest employer in developing countries. Artisan craft work not only meets women’s economic needs as necessity entrepreneurs, but also creates significant social, environmental, and cultural impacts locally, nationally, and globally. Thus, we utilize a three level research framework established to explore the ripple effect of artisan entrepreneurship in the craft sector, we highlight the importance of this work for women through targeted vignettes which illustrate the impact of artisan enterprises, and present critical areas for future research exploration of this important sector.