Phenomenology of Women's Entrepreneurship Across International Contexts
A Post-Structural Feminist Perspective
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Entrepreneurship often brings to mind innovation, ambition, and strategic acumen, but it is also a field dominated by gendered narratives and masculine associations. Women entrepreneurs worldwide are breaking down these barriers, redefining entrepreneurial success, and developing strategies that reflect their unique experiences within gendered landscapes. Their journeys provide a valuable counterpoint to traditional stories of entrepreneurship, shifting the focus toward resilience, resourcefulness, and positive contributions that women bring to the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
This edited collection presents an in-depth examination of how women entrepreneurs across diverse global contexts navigate, challenge, and redefine the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurship. Drawing on a range of case studies and interviews from around the world, this volume is rooted in post-structural feminist theory and interpretative phenomenology to delve into the social constructions of gender and the subjective experiences of women entrepreneurs.
Backed by the Women and Economic Renewal Research Chair from the triple-accredited business school, Grenoble Ecole de Management, in Grenoble, France, Los Angeles-based Azusa Pacific University School of Business and Management in the United States, and an extensive international research network, the collection captures the voices of women who use local institutions, cultural practices, and their networks to succeed in sectors as varied as business, technology, and social enterprise.
From Africa, United States, Pakistan, France, Japan, India and China, these narratives collectively enrich the global conversation on women’s entrepreneurship. Ideal for scholars, policymakers, and students of entrepreneurship and gender studies, this work offers a fresh perspective on the strategies and successes of women entrepreneurs, inspiring new avenues for research and practical approaches for supporting women in business worldwide.
Introduction: The Exploration of Women Entrepreneurship with a Post-Structural Feminism Lens and Phenomenology Method; Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire and Stacy Brecht
- Part 1. Operating Within the Entreprenuerial Ecosystem
- Chapter 1. Women Migrant Entrepreneurship from West and Central Africa in Dakar: An Exploratory Study; Grégory Joseph
- Chapter 2. Social Impact Scaling: The Importance of Networks for Women Social Entrepreneurs in Tunisia; Meriam Razgallah
- Chapter 3. How Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Persevere in a Transition Economy; Laurice Alexandre and Cui Zhao
- Part 2. Transforming Male-Dominated Industries
- Chapter 4. Women Entrepreneurs in Brittany, France: Womenpreneurs Persevering in “Masculine” Industries; Florence Gangloff and Gael Bertrand
- Chapter 5. Challenging Gender Stereotypes: The Extraordinary Journey of a French Woman Entrepreneur Who Has Become an Industry Maker; Michele Coletti
- Chapter 6. Inspiration from Religious Leader, Philippine Duchesne, in "1820s" United States; Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire
- Part 3. The Influence of the Spouse in Entrepreneurship
- Chapter 7. Redefined Realization: Japanese Immigrant Women in the French Micro-Entrepreneurship; Kanako Takeda
- Chapter 8. Women Entrepreneurs and Crisis Recovery: Considerations Based on the United States Beauty Mogul Elizabeth Arden During an Economic and Martial Crisis; Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire, Didier Chabaud, and Rénaldo Payet
- Chapter 9. Reshaping the Patriarchal Landscape: Indian Women Entrepreneurs Transforming Socio-Cultural Norms; Tarun Tiwari, Kumar Santanu, and Pallavi Tyagi
- Part 4. Post-Structural Feminist Ways Forward for Entrepreneurship
- Chapter 10. Women Entrepreneurs in North Carolina: Rising Together for Community Action after Natural Disaster, Hurricane Helene; Susan Clark Muntean
- Chapter 11. Leading with Presence: Mindfulness and Authentic Leadership in Women’s Entrepreneurial Journeys in a Conservative United States Context; Louise Kelly, Stacy Brecht, and Rashmi Assudani
- Chapter 12. Becoming an Agent of Change in the Developing World: The Case of Shaheena Waqar Khan in Pakistan; Nida Karim and Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire
- Chapter 13. The Intersectionality of Women Entrepreneurship and Neurodiversity in the United States: An Impetus for Creating Business Ventures for Career Advancement; Susan Clark Muntean and Stacy Brecht
- Chapter 14. Phenomenology of Female Entrepreneurship: The Contributions of German-American Historian and Philosopher Hannah Arendt; Christine Noël-Lemaitre and Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire
By showcasing a diversity of approaches, this book highlights what is possible in a world that too often downplays the economic and social potential of women’s entrepreneurship, reducing it to a secondary activity generating micro-business or encourages women to “overcome psychological barriers” by adopting the so-called ‘neutral’ codes that, in practice, reflect dominant masculine norms. Refusing to confine women to ready-made prescriptions, the authors reveal just how diverse women’s ambitions and achievements truly are, how varied their economic models and strategies can be, and how their ways of navigating and challenging bias—both their own and that of others—are grounded in pragmatic, solution-orientated action. It is precisely this diversity of approaches, practices, and solutions developed by women entrepreneurs that creates genuine value and provides a meaningful response to today’s economic and societal challenges. It’s a timely and valuable reminder.
This edited volume highlights the possibilities and potential for women’s entrepreneurship through critical feminist perspectives and phenomenological research. By showcasing how female business owners overcome challenges across a variety of dimensions, the research demonstrates the important contributions of women to societies and economics across the globe. The book offers a powerful testament to the successes of women entrepreneurs in many different cultural contexts and engages in important conversations around agency and achievement.
Stacy Brecht, DBA is an Assistant Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Department Chair of Digital and Strategic Marketing at Azusa Pacific University (APU) in the Los Angeles area.
Séverine Le Loarne - Lemaire is a Full Professor at Grenoble Ecole de Management (France) and holds the FERE Research Chair "Women & Economic Renewal," which she founded in 2016.