Women Artisans Facing Obstacles

Abstract

AbstractPakistan is a developing country with a population exceeding 200 million in 2021. Women comprise half of the population and are facing various social, economic, and cultural challenges in Pakistani society. Recent estimates show that more than three-fourths of employed women in urban areas are in non-governmental employment. Hence, the representation of women in the public sector is less than 2%. However, most women work in the informal sector, such as cottage and small-scale industries. Women artisan entrepreneurs have attained various fields such from fabric, material, and embroidery to jewellery, carving, mirror work, and other handicraft items. These women artisan entrepreneurs are striving hard with their lesser income to stand up in the male-dominated society. Hence, the business environment for women artisan entrepreneurs show the complicated interplay of various factors like social, cultural, traditional, and religious which mutually demonstrated a lower status of women in Pakistan. Women artisans may play a dual role in the country’s economic development by keeping the cultural heritage alive for upcoming generations. Due to the lack of researches on women artisan entrepreneurs in developing countries, the present study explores the issues and challenges of women artisan entrepreneurs in Pakistan. A qualitative research strategy and a semi-structured interview technique are used for data collection. The present study’s target population comprises of 20 women artisan entrepreneurs from Punjab zone rural areas. The findings revealed that women artisan entrepreneurs face various challenges such as poor infrastructure, power supply issue, power breakdown, no direct contact with the supplier, exploitation by middleman, limited marketing avenues, no direct customer contact, fewer finances, less familial support, and less profit. The results show that the younger generation is unwilling to continue their ancestors’ profession due to confronted obstacles. This study will help policymakers formulate policies related to education and training facilities for women artisan entrepreneurs to keep this sector alive.KeywordsArtisanEntrepreneurshipObstaclesPakistanWomen