IJMB Journal – Abstracts
International Journal of Management and Business
IJMB Volume VIII, Issue 1
Issues in Women Entrepreneurship in India: An Institutional Theory Perspective
P Padmavathy Dhillon1, P Shivram Dhillon2
1Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, India.
2University Business School, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
E-mail: padmavathyd11@email.iimcal.ac.in, shivramdhillon.ubs@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The paper investigates the paradoxical status of women entrepreneurship in India. On the one hand, a recent study has placed India as one of the most desirable places for women entrepreneurs to work. On the other hand, India is considered as the worst country to be a woman in because of the differential treatment meted out to women with various social ills that have been part of Indian society historically – child marriage, female foeticide, domestic abuse, child labour etc. How can we reconcile these findings? Have there been some recent socio-cultural and economic institutional changes that promote female entrepreneurship? Data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and Gender-Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI), 2014, has been used to explore whether there is a secular trend towards an increase in female entrepreneurship, and if there is then is it primarily opportunity based or necessity based. Preliminary analysis points to a necessity based increase in female entrepreneurship levels. The paper concludes that under some conditions, even such a necessity based increase can lead to greater future opportunities for a large number of women. The ensuing strategic interactions that take place between the members of such a traditional society, lead to changes in socio-political institutions and cultural expectations. Finally, a case study exemplifies the changing status of the Indian woman and the corresponding changes in societal expectations and responses.
The paper makes use of institutional theory to look at contemporary women entrepreneurship from a historical perspective. It explores whether these changing institutions have an overall positive or negative influence on women entrepreneurship in India.
Keywords: women entrepreneurship, institutional theory, case study.
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