| Pub. Date | : Dec, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Product Name | : The IUP Journal of Entrepreneurship Development |
| Product Type | : Article |
| Product Code | : IJED021222 |
| Author Name | : Mohammad Furqan Khan, Roshan Ara, Ziya Aslam, Junaid Ahmad Wani, Heena Gulam and Nadi Azad |
| Availability | : YES |
| Subject/Domain | : Management Journals |
| Download Format | : PDF Format |
| No. of Pages | : 21 |
Previous research has overlooked the role of conflict in influencing the factors that motivate women entrepreneurs in troubled economies. This paper aims to explore the in-depth motivations of women entrepreneurs in the conflict zone of Kashmir and simultaneously compare the results with their counterparts in peaceful regions (Jammu Division) of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. In other words, this study attempts to extend the context-dependent framework of entrepreneurship to the context of economic disturbance due to conflict. Twenty women entrepreneurs financed by Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), a state funding agency, participated in the study across the UT. In-depth interviews were conducted, and Grounded Theory technique was used to analyze the data. The study's findings show that women in conflict zones are mostly motivated by push factors like family reasons and unemployment. Whereas in peaceful regions, women are driven by entrepreneurial passion and social needs. In contrast, recognition and financial independence were found as significant reasons that inspire women to start business ventures, irrespective of the context. Conflict plays a major role in affecting the motivation of women entrepreneurs across the UT. This study is a unique research contribution, as the motivation of women entrepreneurs in J&K has never been studied in the context of the conflict in the past, particularly with qualitative methods.
In recent times, women entrepreneurship has been promoted as a solution to economic and social problems in developing economies (OECD, 2010; and Tuzun and Takay, 2017). The narrative of women entrepreneurship as the savior of underdeveloped nations has become the central theme of development debate across the globe (Valle, 2018). However, despite its importance, women's participation in entrepreneurial activities worldwide varies significantly (Tuzun and Takay, 2017). It has been observed that both formal and informal institutions prevent women from choosing entrepreneurship as a career option (Cullen, 2019).