Investigating The Effects Of Societal Perceived Gender Differences On Female Entrepreneurship - Case of Bahrain

Abstract

This paper explores societal perceived gender differences and their effects on female entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship as a phenomenon that is rooted in the social and geo-cultural environments has been consistently documented in the literature. Furthermore, societal perceived gender differences are increasingly emphasized as strong influencers of entrepreneurial engagement around the globe, for both male and female entrepreneurs. However, the effect of these societal assigned roles are more pronounced in the case of female entrepreneurs, who according to the literature, deal with the magnified effects of such gender roles and the disadvantages brought about by the social setting in their place of business. This paper reflects on these issues through conducting one-on-one in depth interviews with 30 female entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As a result of the study, the following aspects are identified as major factors affecting female entrepreneurship namely 1) economic conditions and 2) societal attitudes.