Hi, we are Mercy and Geofrey from MUBS and Amanda and Svenja from CBS. Our research project focuses on female entrepreneurs from Kampala and on how they create a balance between their business life and their family life. Compared to countries in the global North, Uganda displays much higher rates of female entrepreneurship. However, these women still face a number of gender related barriers to engage in entrepreneurship and to grow their business while, on the other hand, they need to take care of their children and the household. So these women tend to struggle in finding their right balance in life.
There is indication that many women engage in entrepreneurship because of necessity but it also enables them to be more independent and responsible for their lives. Ugandan woman now receive increased attention from policy makers, the private sector and development organizations. The promotion of female entrepreneurship is often viewed as a key tool to poverty alleviation and women empowerment.
To find out more about their challenges, fears and also potential solutions and coping strategies we talk to women at the local market place in Kampala as well as to successful female entrepreneurs who are running small or medium sized enterprises. We examine the barriers as well as the opportunities, the role of social networks, the impact of the institutional environment and, most important, to which extent entrepreneurship leads to women empowerment. We are excited about what we’ll find out! :)
Wow.....Svenja thanks for the post
ReplyDeleteSounds very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing more from your findings and analyses.
Does the age influence her status with regards to successful entrepreneurship?
What about the type of business, is there any any specific business seen from your research that would facilitate women empowerment...?
Hello Jose:)
ReplyDeleteSo far the women's age doesn't seem to affect their success. But there is indication that their children's age has an impact on their business growth as younger children need more attention and care than those who are older and hence more independent. Many women struggle with the pressure of being at two places at the same time, at work and at home. A lot of them were stating a strong feeling of guilt if they couldn't spent enough time with their children so they usually prioritize their family life over there businesses. Only a few are lucky enough to have a supportive husband or a reliable maid.
We interviewed women from the local market such as fruit vendors, hair dressers, kiosk owners and fashion shop owners as well as women with bigger businesses for example in health care or public relations. Literature suggests that women tend to be more successful in businesses that ask for networking and the use of relationships. To some extend, we could proof that fact but the women we've met also all have their own success stories. They all conduct female empowerment in their own way just by giving their input and showing their ambition. So we would suggest that it is more about the women's personality and passion for what they are doing in life rather than their type of business that really makes female empowerment work. But it's an interesting question! We'll definitely have a closer look at it.