Women’s entrepreneurship in the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The main goal of the chapter was to shed light on the challenges that women entrepreneurs face during the Covid-19 pandemic and answer how women entrepreneurs reorient their businesses in this situation. Design/methodology/approach: The study used secondary data (literature and reports), along with direct interviews with women entrepreneurs located in Poland. Findings: The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing disruption have disproportionately impacted women. In the near future, women will experience increased unemployment and household responsibilities, along with the exacerbation of social injustice. At the same time, the Covid-19 pandemic catalyzed changes. The findings indicate that some women entrepreneurs aggressively adapted their businesses to resist the short-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. There appeared acceptance for remote work models, acceleration in the use of digital channels on both the demand and the supply side, and a shift toward digital over physical interactions, all of which have the potential to level the playing field, especially for women entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications: Further research in this area should focus on the effects of protracted restrictions on doing business and the growing problems associated with managing a pandemic. Originality and value: The study adds anew dimension to entrepreneurship considerations by recognizing that gender issues are rarely considered in times of crises of economies.