Women Entrepreneurship in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had a great impact on the business activities of the women entrepreneurs. Pandemic protection measures taken to reduce health risks as well as the introduction of restrictive measures have influenced the changes in the scope, manner and organization of business in most small and medium enterprises, including those (co) owned and managed by women. Considering that the previous researches showed that women bore the greatest burden of this crisis, the aim of the study was to gain insight into the effects of the pandemic on women's businesses as well as balancing between business and family responsibilities of women entrepreneurs in the changed circumstances. The research was conducted through an online survey on a sample of 93 respondents. The results showed that 76% of women-owned companies were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and that women replaced the lack of hours spent at work with work at home and care of family members.