IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/sbusec/v56y2021i4d10.1007_s11187-019-00287-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Leveraging the macro-level environment to balance work and life: an analysis of female entrepreneurs’ job satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk Clercq

    (Brock University
    Kingston University)

  • Steven A. Brieger

    (University of Sussex
    University of St.Gallen)

  • Christian Welzel

    (Leuphana University of Lüneburg
    National Research University)

Abstract

This study investigates the interactive effect of female entrepreneurs’ experience of work–life imbalance and gender-egalitarian macro-level conditions on their job satisfaction, with the prediction that the negative linear relationship between work–life imbalance and job satisfaction may be buffered by the presence of women-friendly action resources, emancipative values, and civic entitlements. Data pertaining to 7392 female entrepreneurs from 44 countries offer empirical support for these predictions. Female entrepreneurs who are preoccupied with their ability to fulfill both work and life responsibilities are more likely to maintain a certain level of job satisfaction, even if they experience significant work–life imbalances, to the extent that they operate in supportive macro-level environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Clercq & Steven A. Brieger & Christian Welzel, 2021. "Leveraging the macro-level environment to balance work and life: an analysis of female entrepreneurs’ job satisfaction," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1361-1384, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:56:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00287-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00287-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11187-019-00287-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11187-019-00287-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nan Langowitz & Maria Minniti, 2007. "The Entrepreneurial Propensity of Women," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(3), pages 341-364, May.
    2. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Gary N. Powell, 2012. "Nurturing Entrepreneurs’ Work–Family Balance: A Gendered Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(3), pages 513-541, May.
    3. Lakshmi Balachandra & Tony Briggs & Kim Eddleston & Candida Brush, 2019. "Don’t Pitch Like a Girl!: How Gender Stereotypes Influence Investor Decisions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(1), pages 116-137, January.
    4. Amanda Elam & Siri Terjesen, 2010. "Gendered Institutions and Cross-National Patterns of Business Creation for Men and Women," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 22(3), pages 331-348, July.
    5. Kirkwood, Jodyanne & Tootell, Beth, 2008. "Is entrepreneurship the answer to achieving work–family balance?," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 285-302, July.
    6. José Millán & Jolanda Hessels & Roy Thurik & Rafael Aguado, 2013. "Determinants of job satisfaction: a European comparison of self-employed and paid employees," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 651-670, April.
    7. De Clercq, Dirk & Belausteguigoitia, Imanol, 2017. "Overcoming the dark side of task conflict: Buffering roles of transformational leadership, tenacity, and passion for work," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 78-90.
    8. Barbara J. Orser & Allan L. Riding & Kathryn Manley, 2006. "Women Entrepreneurs and Financial Capital," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(5), pages 643-665, September.
    9. Steven A. Brieger & Claude Francoeur & Christian Welzel & Walid Ben-Amar, 2019. "Empowering Women: The Role of Emancipative Forces in Board Gender Diversity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 495-511, March.
    10. Helene Ahl, 2006. "Why Research on Women Entrepreneurs Needs New Directions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(5), pages 595-621, September.
    11. Dirk De Clercq & Dominic S.K. Lim & Chang Hoon Oh, 2013. "Individual–Level Resources and New Business Activity: The Contingent Role of Institutional Context," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 37(2), pages 303-330, March.
    12. Zoltán J. Ács & Erkko Autio & László Szerb, 2015. "National Systems of Entrepreneurship: Measurement issues and policy implications," Chapters, in: Global Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Incentives, chapter 28, pages 523-541, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Bird, Miriam & Wennberg, Karl, 2014. "Regional influences on the prevalence of family versus non-family start-ups," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 421-436.
    14. Wyndow, Paula & Li, Jianghong & Mattes, Eugen, 2013. "Female Empowerment as a Core Driver of Democratic Development: A Dynamic Panel Model from 1980 to 2005," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 34-54.
    15. Greg Hundley, 2001. "Why Women Earn Less Than Men in Self-Employment," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 22(4), pages 817-829, October.
    16. Edelman, Linda F. & Brush, Candida G. & Manolova, Tatiana, 2005. "Co-alignment in the resource-performance relationship: strategy as mediator," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 359-383, May.
    17. World Bank, 2015. "Women, Business and the Law 2016: Getting to Equal," Working Papers id:7449, eSocialSciences.
    18. Jolanda Hessels & Efstratia Arampatzi & Peter van der Zwan & Martijn Burger, 2018. "Life satisfaction and self-employment in different types of occupations," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(11), pages 734-740, June.
    19. David Y. Choi & Martin Stack, 2005. "Who Adds Value to Ventures? Understanding the Roles and Relative Contributions of Key Advisors in High-Technology Startups," Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, vol. 10(3), pages 75-88, Fall.
    20. Diana M. Hechavarría & Siri A. Terjesen & Amy E. Ingram & Maija Renko & Rachida Justo & Amanda Elam, 2017. "Taking care of business: the impact of culture and gender on entrepreneurs’ blended value creation goals," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 225-257, January.
    21. Thomas Lange, 2012. "Job satisfaction and self-employment: autonomy or personality?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 165-177, February.
    22. Candida Brush & Linda F. Edelman & Tatiana Manolova & Friederike Welter, 2019. "A gendered look at entrepreneurship ecosystems," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 393-408, August.
    23. Rey-Martí, Andrea & Tur Porcar, Ana & Mas-Tur, Alicia, 2015. "Linking female entrepreneurs' motivation to business survival," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 810-814.
    24. Hsu, Dan K. & Wiklund, Johan & Anderson, Stella E. & Coffey, Betty S., 2016. "Entrepreneurial exit intentions and the business-family interface," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 613-627.
    25. Michael Wyrwich & Michael Stuetzer & Rolf Sternberg, 2016. "Entrepreneurial role models, fear of failure, and institutional approval of entrepreneurship: a tale of two regions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 467-492, March.
    26. Małgorzata Mikucka, 2014. "Does Individualistic Culture Lower the Well-Being of the Unemployed? Evidence from Europe," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 673-691, June.
    27. David B. Audretsch & Maksim Belitski, 2017. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems in cities: establishing the framework conditions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(5), pages 1030-1051, October.
    28. Stephan Klasen & Dana Sch�ler, 2011. "Reforming the Gender-Related Development Index and the Gender Empowerment Measure: Implementing Some Specific Proposals," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 1-30, January.
    29. Rolf Sternberg & Sander Wennekers, 2005. "Determinants and Effects of New Business Creation Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Data," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 193-203, January.
    30. Jennifer M. Sequeira & Sherrhonda R. Gibbs & Norma A. Juma, 2016. "Factors Contributing To Women’S Venture Success In Developing Countries: An Exploratory Analysis," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(01), pages 1-31, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vallari Chandna, 2021. "The Impact of Work Centrality and Type of Work on Life Satisfaction: an Exploration of Global Respondents," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 24(81), pages 50-58, September.
    2. Purushottam Dhakal & Retha Wiesner & Tek Maraseni, 2022. "When Entrepreneurial Leadership Identity and Passion Meet Venture Growth Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Junguang Gao & Tao Chen & Thomas Schøtt & Fuzhen Gu, 2022. "Entrepreneurs’ Life Satisfaction Built on Satisfaction with Job and Work–Family Balance: Embedded in Society in China, Finland, and Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Al James, 2024. "Platform work‐lives in the gig economy: Recentering work–family research," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 513-534, March.
    5. Silvia De Simone & Jessica Pileri & Marina Mondo & Max Rapp-Ricciardi & Barbara Barbieri, 2022. "Mea Culpa! The Role of Guilt in the Work-Life Interface and Satisfaction of Women Entrepreneur," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Xiaoyu Yu & Xiaotong Meng & Laura Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2024. "Self-employment and life satisfaction: The contingent role of formal institutions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 135-163, June.
    7. Norifumi Kawai & Hataya Sibunruang & Tomoyo Kazumi, 2023. "Work-family conflict, entrepreneurial regret, and entrepreneurial outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 837-861, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dirk De Clercq & Steven A. Brieger, 2022. "When Discrimination is Worse, Autonomy is Key: How Women Entrepreneurs Leverage Job Autonomy Resources to Find Work–Life Balance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 665-682, May.
    2. Aparicio, Sebastian & Audretsch, David & Noguera, Maria & Urbano, David, 2022. "Can female entrepreneurs boost social mobility in developing countries? An institutional analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Steven A. Brieger & Michael M. Gielnik, 2021. "Understanding the gender gap in immigrant entrepreneurship: a multi-country study of immigrants’ embeddedness in economic, social, and institutional contexts," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1007-1031, February.
    4. Daniela Giménez & Andrea Calabrò, 2018. "The salient role of institutions in Women’s entrepreneurship: a critical review and agenda for future research," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 857-882, December.
    5. Claudia Álvarez & David Urbano & José Amorós, 2014. "GEM research: achievements and challenges," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 445-465, March.
    6. Kaciak, Eugene & Welsh, Dianne H.B., 2020. "Women entrepreneurs and work–life interface: The impact of sustainable economies on success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 281-290.
    7. Steven A. Brieger & Dirk Clercq & Timo Meynhardt, 2021. "Doing Good, Feeling Good? Entrepreneurs’ Social Value Creation Beliefs and Work-Related Well-Being," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(4), pages 707-725, September.
    8. Mohd Yasir Arafat & Javed Ali & Amit Kumar Dwivedi & Imran Saleem, 2020. "Social and Cognitive Aspects of Women Entrepreneurs: Evidence from India," Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, , vol. 45(4), pages 223-239, December.
    9. Aparicio, Sebastian & Urbano, David & Stenholm, Pekka, 2021. "Attracting the entrepreneurial potential: A multilevel institutional approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    10. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Gary N. Powell, 2012. "Nurturing Entrepreneurs’ Work–Family Balance: A Gendered Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(3), pages 513-541, May.
    11. Jana Schmutzler & Veneta Andonova & Luis Diaz-Serrano, 2019. "How Context Shapes Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy as a Driver of Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Multilevel Approach," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(5), pages 880-920, September.
    12. R. Sandra Schillo & Ajax Persaud & Meng Jin, 2016. "Entrepreneurial readiness in the context of national systems of entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 619-637, April.
    13. Justo, Rachida & DeTienne, Dawn R. & Sieger, Philipp, 2015. "Failure or voluntary exit? Reassessing the female underperformance hypothesis," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(6), pages 775-792.
    14. Yosr Ben Tahar & Nada Rejeb & Adnane Maalaoui & Sascha Kraus & Paul Westhead & Paul Jones, 2023. "Emotional demands and entrepreneurial burnout: the role of autonomy and job satisfaction," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 701-716, August.
    15. Ardianti, Retno & Obschonka, Martin & Davidsson, Per, 2022. "Psychological well-being of hybrid entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    16. Yalin Wang & Yaokuang Li & Juan Wu & Li Ling & Dan Long, 2023. "Does digitalization sufficiently empower female entrepreneurs? Evidence from their online gender identities and crowdfunding performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 325-348, June.
    17. Dirk De Clercq & Eugene Kaciak & Narongsak (Tek) Thongpapanl, 2023. "Full circle support: unpacking the relationship between women entrepreneurs’ family-to-work support and work interference with family," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 343-367, March.
    18. Feng Xu & Xiaogang He & Xueru Yang, 2021. "A Multilevel Approach Linking Entrepreneurial Contexts to Subjective Well-Being: Evidence from Rural Chinese Entrepreneurs," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1537-1561, April.
    19. Litsardopoulos, Nicholas & Saridakis, George & Hand, Chris, 2021. "Does the accumulation of self-employment experience impact life satisfaction?," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).
    20. Bhabesh Hazarika, 2020. "Gender income gap in rural informal micro-enterprises: an unconditional quantile decomposition approach in the handloom industry," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(3), pages 441-473, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:56:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00287-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.