IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v13y2023i4p21582440231188022.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Factors of Women Entrepreneurship in Egypt: A Qualitative Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Ashraf Borham
  • Rosfizah Binti Md Taib
  • Gyanendra Singh Sisodia
  • Akinola Fadahunsi

Abstract

Extensive studies related to women’s entrepreneurial motivation are available in the western context, however, only a few studies are found focused on factors that motivate Egyptian women to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The study explores in-depth the motivations behind female entrepreneurs’ efforts to establish business ventures in Egypt. It analyses the influence of macrosocial realities and cultural values on the motivation for entrepreneurship. The finding demonstrates how post materialism factors motivate Egyptian women to embrace entrepreneurial activity as a way to maintaining “personal freedom†. The results demonstrate the impact of the Arab patriarchal culture on shaping the Egyptian women motivation. The qualitative research approach is adopted in this study to explore the entrepreneurial motivations of Egyptian women entrepreneurs. Through purposeful sampling, 20 women entrepreneurs were selected from five Egyptian governorates to administer a semi structured interview for the collection of primary data. The findings indicated that the motivation of Egyptian women entrepreneurs cover a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Intrinsic motivations include maintaining personal freedom, satisfying their creative impulses, utilizing their knowledge derived from education training courses and work experiences, exploiting business opportunities, achieving a sense of self -actualization, improving social motivation. On the other hand, extrinsic factors include the inability to find a suitable job, death or illness of a family member, the need to supplement the family income, unfavorable job routine. The research on female entrepreneurs in the context of Egypt is essential as this study responded to calls for a thorough understanding of women’s entrepreneurial motivations. By studying these factors, the study would be able to show that motivations are unique and differentiate from other contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashraf Borham & Rosfizah Binti Md Taib & Gyanendra Singh Sisodia & Akinola Fadahunsi, 2023. "Factors of Women Entrepreneurship in Egypt: A Qualitative Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:21582440231188022
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440231188022
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440231188022
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/21582440231188022?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jack, Sarah L., 2010. "Approaches to studying networks: Implications and outcomes," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 120-137, January.
    2. Rizwan Tahir & Mohamed El Baradie, 2019. "Behind the veil: the challenges and impediments encountered by women entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 258-282.
    3. Ritika Mahajan & Kaushik Ranjan Bandyopadhyay, 2021. "Women entrepreneurship and sustainable development: select case studies from the sustainable energy sector," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(1), pages 42-75, March.
    4. Virginia Barba-Sánchez & Carlos Atienza-Sahuquillo, 2017. "Entrepreneurial motivation and self-employment: evidence from expectancy theory," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 1097-1115, December.
    5. Saleh Abdullah Alreshoodi & Anis Ur Rehman & Serhan Abdullah Alshammari & Tahreem Noor Khan & Sana Moid, 2022. "Women Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia: A Portrait of Progress in the Context of Their Drivers and Inhibitors," Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 30(03), pages 375-400, September.
    6. Hofstede, Geert, 1994. "The business of international business is culture," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 3(1), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Mufaro Dzingirai, 2021. "The role of entrepreneurship in reducing poverty in agricultural communities," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(5), pages 665-683, October.
    8. Allam Mohammed Hamdan & Reem Khamis & Ammar Abdulla Al Hawaj & Elisabetta Barone, 2020. "The mediation role of public governance in the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic growth," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(3), pages 316-333, January.
    9. Shagufta Tariq Khan & Mohd Abass Bhat & Mohi-Ud-Din Sangmi, 2022. "Can microfinance-backed entrepreneurship be a holistic empowerment tool for women? Empirical evidence from Kashmir Valley, India," Journal of Business and Socio-economic Development, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 2(2), pages 117-136, January.
    10. Yasmin Khodary, 2022. "Women, land and rural development in Egypt: a socio-cultural perspective," Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(3), pages 261-278, May.
    11. Diana M. Hechavarría & Amy E. Ingram, 2019. "Entrepreneurial ecosystem conditions and gendered national-level entrepreneurial activity: a 14-year panel study of GEM," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 431-458, August.
    12. Sucheta Agarwal & Vivek Agrawal & Anand Mohan Agrawal, 2018. "Motivational and success factors: through the lens of women entrepreneurship," International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 17(4), pages 307-328.
    13. Hayfaa A. Tlaiss & Maura McAdam, 2021. "Unexpected Lives: The Intersection of Islam and Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 253-272, June.
    14. Welsh, Dianne H.B. & Kaciak, Eugene & Shamah, Rania, 2018. "Determinants of women entrepreneurs' firm performance in a hostile environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 481-491.
    15. Leonidou, Erasmia & Christofi, Michael & Vrontis, Demetris & Thrassou, Alkis, 2020. "An integrative framework of stakeholder engagement for innovation management and entrepreneurship development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 245-258.
    16. Allam Mohammed Hamdan & Reem Khamis & Ammar Abdulla Al Hawaj & Elisabetta Barone, 2020. "The mediation role of public governance in the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic growth," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(3), pages 316-333, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Caroline Glackin & Murat Adivar, 2023. "Modeling independent sales representative performance: application of predictive analytics in direct selling for improved outcomes," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(4), pages 613-628, December.
    2. Haider Alvi, Farzad & Ulrich, Klaus, 2023. "Innovation finance ecosystems for entrepreneurial firms: A conceptual model and research propositions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    3. Nisreen Ameen & Nnamdi O. Madichie & Amitabh Anand, 2023. "Between Handholding and Hand-held Devices: Marketing Through Smartphone Innovation and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Post Conflict Economies in Times of Crisis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 401-423, February.
    4. Tomasz Kusio & Mariantonietta Fiore, 2022. "Which Stakeholders’ Sector Matters in Rural Development? That Is the Problem," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Minguzzi, Antonio & Passaro, Renato, 2001. "The network of relationships between the economic environment and the entrepreneurial culture in small firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 181-207, March.
    6. Luis Alfonso Dau & Aya S. Chacar & Marjorie A. Lyles & Jiatao Li, 2022. "Informal institutions and international business: Toward an integrative research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(6), pages 985-1010, August.
    7. Firoz Alam & Shahid Alam & Mohammad Asif & Umme Hani & Mohd Naved Khan, 2023. "An Investigation of Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Reform Programme with Vision 2030 to Incentivise Investment in the Country’s Non-Oil Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    8. Lu, Jiaying & Hung, Kam & Wang, Lili & Schuett, Michael A. & Hu, Liang, 2016. "Do perceptions of time affect outbound-travel motivations and intention? An investigation among Chinese seniors," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-12.
    9. Muhammad Naveed Iftikhar & Maha Ahmad & David B. Audretsch, 0. "The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship: the developing country context," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    10. Antonella La Rocca & Ivan Snehota, 2021. "Mobilizing suppliers when starting up a new business venture," Post-Print hal-03328945, HAL.
    11. Flemming Sørensen & Jan Mattsson, 2016. "Speeding Up Innovation: Building Network Structures For Parallel Innovation," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(02), pages 1-30, February.
    12. Christopher S. Hayter, 2016. "A trajectory of early-stage spinoff success: the role of knowledge intermediaries within an entrepreneurial university ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 633-656, October.
    13. Maria Elena Latino & Marta Menegoli & Fulvio Signore & Maria Chiara De Lorenzi, 2023. "The Potential of Gamification for Social Sustainability: Meaning and Purposes in Agri-Food Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    14. Mariana Pita & Joana Costa & António Carrizo Moreira, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Entrepreneurial Initiative: Building a Multi-Country Taxonomy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, April.
    15. E. Zabelina & D. Tsiring & Yu Chestyunina, 2018. "Personal helplessness and self-reliance as predictors of small business development in Russia: pilot study results," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 279-293, June.
    16. Rosa Caiazza & Phillip Phan & Erik Lehmann & Henry Etzkowitz, 2021. "An absorptive capacity-based systems view of Covid-19 in the small business economy," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1419-1439, September.
    17. Mahavarpour, Nasrin & Marvi, Reza & Foroudi, Pantea, 2023. "A Brief History of Service Innovation: The evolution of past, present, and future of service innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    18. Hervas-Oliver, Jose-Luis & Lleo, María & Cervello, Roberto, 2017. "The dynamics of cluster entrepreneurship: Knowledge legacy from parents or agglomeration effects? The case of the Castellon ceramic tile district," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 73-92.
    19. Sara Parry & Paul Westhead, 2016. "Mobilizing relationship marketing to ensure venture development in a rural resource-constrained bilingual context: The case of Draig Technology Limited," Working Papers 16002, Bangor Business School, Prifysgol Bangor University (Cymru / Wales).
    20. Rocha, Augusto & Brown, Ross & Mawson, Suzanne, 2021. "Capturing conversations in entrepreneurial ecosystems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(9).

    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:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:21582440231188022. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.