Contextual Embeddedness of Women's Entrepreneurship

"This book breaks new ground by widening the contextual focus of women’s entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship research. From recognition of a 7th century business woman in Mecca to the construction of a gendered scientific Business Model Canvas, the collection of studies will inspire readers to think differently about theory, patriarchy, trade systems, adoption or transformation, and strategies to create inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. This is a must read for those who seek to understand the spectrum of gender influences in the context of entrepreneurship." - Professor Barbara Orser, Deloitte Professor in the Management of Growth Enterprises, Telfer School of management, University of Ottawa, Canada.

"This collection of research studies situates women entrepreneurship within a variety of contexts (e.g., social, political, institutional, religious, patriarchal, cultural, family, economic) that demonstrate the innovative and creative ways that individuals are able to act entrepreneurially. By focusing on such a diverse set of situations in which women start and manage different kinds of businesses and organizations, the book provides powerful insights into how specific contexts shape entrepreneurial activity, as well as how these contexts are modified by entrepreneurial action. By studying a multitude of gendered contexts in the entrepreneurial process, the book shows how the field of "women entrepreneurship" provides a more comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship, in general." - William B. Gartner – Bertarelli Foundation Distinguished Professor of Family Entrepreneurship, Babson College

"We know that women entrepreneurs are indeed a formidable force of economic growth and social change, while we still often question the "how" and "why." The authors in this volume capture the fluid nature of gender differences in the entrepreneurial arena through highly contextualized studies considering such things as history, geography, and religion. By examining institutional power structures and social environments through a variety of methodological approaches, this volume helps us reach beyond the existing research to support the asking of new questions, leading to changes in practice as well as innovative and evidence-based policymaking around the world." - Patti Greene, Babson College, USA

"The editors pulled together a knowledgeable group of international scholars who provide novel insights into women’s entrepreneurship in under-studied cultural, spatial and sectoral contexts. The book’s contributions tease out the more invisible contextual influences on women’s entrepreneurship, shedding new light on their interplay with laws and policies. Definitely a book which I can recommend to all those interested in learning more about female entrepreneurship in very different contexts." - Friederike Welter, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (IfM), Bonn, and University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany.