Marginalized women social well‐being through enterprise development: A glimpse of remote women status in Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory paper is to explore and categorize the impediments which surround the remote women entrepreneurs and limit their growth opportunities to be successful entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on the primary data collected through interviews and focus group discussions with the remote women entrepreneurs from selected cities across four provinces of Pakistan.

Findings

Social and gender discrimination, lack of access and control over resources, limited educational opportunities, weaker family support, absence of self‐actualization, and little entrepreneurial orientation are few impediments classified as barriers to the growth of remote women entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

Research findings will help the future researchers understand the characteristics of remote women entrepreneurs residing in Pakistan, moreover, the findings of this paper also provide a panoramic view about the social and working conditions prevailing in Pakistan for women entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper will provide the baseline information to the government and strategists to develop a policy framework to boost the entrepreneurial culture for women in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This paper intends to identify the hazards, which restrain growth opportunities for women dwelling in remote parts of Pakistan. It may be termed as an exploratory survey for the future researchers to further probe the issue of women entrepreneurship in Pakistan and evolve a suitable model for development of marginalized women entrepreneurs to grow into mature entrepreneurs.

Citation

Afza, T. and Amir Rashid, M. (2009), "Marginalized women social well‐being through enterprise development: A glimpse of remote women status in Pakistan", Journal of Chinese Entrepreneurship, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 248-267. https://doi.org/10.1108/17561390910999533