UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESSES OF NECESSITY MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS IN DEVELOPING CONTEXTS: THE TIJUANA CASE

Abstract

We conducted an exploratory multi-case study of female, necessity micro-entrepreneurs in developing contexts to partially validate an existing theoretical model and identify relevant omitted variables. Using a sample of eight female, necessity entrepreneurs in Tijuana (Mexico), we were able to challenge the established pull-push binary framework in entrepreneurship as well as the linear entrepreneurial process. Our analysis suggests that motivations, family embeddedness and gender identity are critical factors impacting the female micro-venture creation process in developing contexts. We summarize our theoretical findings in a new process model that accounts for macro, meso and micro factors, offering contributions to the scholarship on female entrepreneurship in developing contexts.