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Saudi Arabian Women In Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Opportunities And Potential

Author

Listed:
  • AMAL A. BASAFFAR

    (King Abdulaziz University, 80200 Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

  • LINDA S. NIEHM

    (Iowa State University, 1066 LeBaron Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • ROBERT BOSSELMAN

    (Iowa State University, 004 MacKay Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

Abstract

Although traditional cultural norms have tended to impede Saudi women’s engagement in entrepreneurship, there are successful female business owners in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government, seeing female entrepreneurship as a way to strengthen both the family unit and the economy, has recently created programs to encourage more women to become business owners. However, few women have taken advantage of these programs to date. This study aimed to identify factors that enable female business owners to realize their entrepreneurial potential. Nine business-owning women were interviewed for this phenomenological study. Drawing on Kreuger and Brazeal’s Model of Entrepreneurial Potential (MEP), the study investigated Saudi female entrepreneurs’ perceived self-efficacy, perceived desirability, perceived feasibility and propensity to act on entrepreneurial opportunities. Currently, limited empirical research exists on women’s entrepreneurial activity in Saudi Arabia. This study sought to fill that gap. Results from this study revealed unique strategic approaches and business success factors from the perspective of Saudi women, including their ability to work within or around cultural norms and rules to operate their businesses. The study suggests ways in which Saudi society can support women in realizing their entrepreneurial potential and also makes policy recommendations for government and business support entities.

Suggested Citation

  • Amal A. Basaffar & Linda S. Niehm & Robert Bosselman, 2018. "Saudi Arabian Women In Entrepreneurship: Challenges, Opportunities And Potential," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(02), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:23:y:2018:i:02:n:s1084946718500139
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946718500139
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sukhjeet Kaur Matharu & Divya Juneja, 2023. "The Influence of Perceived Motivational Factors on Success of Women-Driven Ventures and Their Contribution in Economic Development," Vision, , vol. 27(5), pages 616-627, November.
    3. Tarifa Almulhim & Mohammed Al-Mahish & Mohammed Alabdulqader, 2024. "Eliciting Customers’ Preferences in the Cooperative Insurance Industry: Evidence from the Saudi Motor Insurance Market," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    4. Sophie Alkhaled, 2021. "Women's entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Feminist solidarity and political activism in disguise?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 950-972, May.
    5. Maneesh Kumar Pandey & Irina G. Sergeeva, 2022. "A research on the role of women in economic development in the BRICS countries," Journal of New Economy, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 23(1), pages 43-65, April.
    6. Sophia Ze Mukorera, 2020. "Is Entrepreneurship The Solution For Female Empowerment In South Africa," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(01), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Uma Shankar Yadav & Ravindra Tripathi & Mano Ashish Tripathi & Ashish Kumar & Mitu Mandal, 2023. "Evaluation of factors affecting entrepreneurship: a case of Indian women in the handicraft industry," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.

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