Women's entrepreneurship in developing countries from a family perspective: Past and future

Abstract

AbstractStudies of the distinct experience of women entrepreneurs in non‐Western settings are rare. Extant studies of women's entrepreneurship focus, almost exclusively, on developed Western economies and tend to underplay the role of the family, which has become unnaturally separated from entrepreneurship research. Based on a structured literature review, this article advances the understanding of how family related issues shape women's gendered experience as entrepreneurs in developing countries. It addresses the diversity of experiences of women entrepreneurs, and discusses both the positive and negative aspects of familial issues, as well as some broader contextual features related to the family. It offers an agenda for future research on this topic, and provides a useful guide for policy makers and practitioners intending to facilitate women's entrepreneurship in developing countries.