Mapuche entrepreneur women profiles and their trajectories in poverty alleviation programs

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has become a prominent strategy for overcoming poverty, but few studies have identified the specificities of different entrepreneurial configurations in indigenous contexts. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze positive effects and their relationship with participants’ profiles of entrepreneurial programs, from the experiences and meanings of Mapuche people (mostly women) in poverty and social vulnerability situation in rural and urban contexts. A qualitative study was conducted in rural and urban areas considering a total of 19 respondents. Results focus on woman experiences showing three types of Mapuche entrepreneur women profiles (fighter, submissive and reluctant) and their trajectories in entrepreneurship programs, considering their responses to their background, their relationship with the program and profile-specific positive effects.