The paradox of gender equality: an entrepreneurial case study from Sweden

Abstract

Purpose

Informed by socialist feminist theory, the purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of societal factors such as governmental policies, labor market structure, social norms, and gender ideology on the experiences and practices of women small business owners in Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative data gathered during four months of fieldwork in Sweden, the analysis focuses on the case of Malin Andersson, the founder of a domestic services company, to show how individual situations are intimately connected to the larger social, political, and economic environments.

Findings

The analysis demonstrates how the complexities of gender and class dynamics interact with business endeavors in a capitalist society with a strong social democratic political system. In particular, the paper shows how Malin Andersson's experience of entrepreneurship is at the nexus of many social forces, creating many contradictions and paradoxes to understanding her experience.

Originality/value

The theoretical framework and empirical evidence suggest that paying attention to the socio‐economic‐political context is vital to illuminate the contradictions inherent, but often overlooked, in women's experience of entrepreneurship in different situations.

Citation

Bourne, K.A. (2010), "The paradox of gender equality: an entrepreneurial case study from Sweden", International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 10-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/17566261011026529