دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی کارآفرینی زنان در خاورمیانه و آفریقای شمالی - امرالد 2017

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to attempt to collate and understand the fragmented research on female entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The review assesses the literature at the macro, meso and micro analysis levels and addresses the obstacles, challenges, motivations and characteristics of female entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis bases on a gender aware, narrative review, which is an appropriate method when aggregating studies of different methodological approaches, covering broad and fragmented topics in different settings. The study analyzes the areas that have received sufficient research attention and those which are still under-developed. Findings – Important gaps in the field are lack of theoretical foundations; an over emphasis on macro level indicators, such as culture and religion and an under emphasis on organizational level variables; a lack of studies that analyze female entrepreneurship within ethnic groups, or studies that acknowledge the complex social, cultural and religious diversity of the region; and inattention to particular regional experiences (e.g. refugees crisis) and emerging trends. Originality/value – This is the first integrative review of the literature in the growing field of female entrepreneurship in the MENA region that identifies areas of particular research interest and questions that are still under-developed. The study proposes further avenues for future research.

Implications and conclusion

The present paper set out to give an overview of the research on female entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Our content analysis identified and analyzed publication trends and theories as well as methodological approaches applied by researchers. We analyzed the literature based on a gender aware framework covering micro, meso and macro levels, which allowed for the identification of important research gaps. Policymakers and practitioners would be able to develop better support policies and programs when they understand the gendered dimension of entrepreneurship. They would also become better at anticipating the difficulties that female business starters and entrepreneurs suffer from. Through this work, we were able to identify important gaps in the present research on MENA women entrepreneurs. For one, there is a need for more solid theoretical foundations in the research. Most of the research studies so far have been trying to gauge the situation of female entrepreneurs, understanding their status and the profiles of their operations. This has been very useful. Yet it is about time for future research studies to delve in building a solid theoretical framework by which we can understand female entrepreneurship in the region. The uniqueness of the region and the distinctiveness of some of the factors that motivate or obstruct female entrepreneurship have the potential to contribute to the general field of entrepreneurship as a whole.