Cultural Effects on Women’s Entrepreneurial Behaviours in Higher Education Institutions: A Study of The Polygamous Family Firm Context in the Southern Region of Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines how cultural factors associated with women in plural families in the Southern parts of Nigeria affect the women’s entrepreneurial behaviours in their family businesses – higher education institutions (HEIs). There have been studies on women entrepreneurship, and the associated barriers, in family firms. However, the non-existence of studies on how cultural factors may affect women’s entrepreneurial behaviours in polygamous family firms poses a research gap. We seek to address this in this study, by using the term polygamous family firms in order to make a clear distinction from the traditional family firms that saturate several European countries and eslewhere. This study aims to understand how culture affects women’s entrepreneurial behaviours in polygamous family firms. Specifically, it shows how family belief systems and shared cultural norms influence women’s entrepreneurial behaviours in these firms. In this vein, we employed the case study strategy and used interviews and observations in our data collection process. Although polygamy is considered repressive in some cultures, this study’s findings reveal that it is a natural practice in Nigeria and not a dying tradition. We contribute to the literature on family firms and female entrepreneurship by showing the cultural hindrances to women empowerment within the polygamous family firm context. We provide theoretical and practical implications as well as future research agenda to encourage more studies on women’s entrepreneurial behaviours in polygamous family firms.

Citation

Koroye, B.H. and Dada, O.L. (2022), "Cultural Effects on Women’s Entrepreneurial Behaviours in Higher Education Institutions: A Study of The Polygamous Family Firm Context in the Southern Region of Nigeria", Omeihe, K.O. and Harrison, C. (Ed.) The African Context of Business and Society (New Frontiers in African Business and Society), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-852-520221006