Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340 Volume 1, Number 1 (2014), pp. 1 - 8
© Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
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Women Entrepreneurship: An Overview

Dr. Deepa Vinay, Dr. Divya Singh
Professor and Head, Senior Research Fellow
Department of Family Resource Management, Faculty of Home Science
GB Pant University of Horticulture & Technology, Pantnagar, (Uttrakhand), India
Email: deepasharma1416@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Women constitute the families, which lead to society and nation. The development (Social and economic) of women is necessary for overall economic development of any society or a country. Entrepreneurship is the state of mind which every woman has in her but has not been capitalized in India in the way in which it should be. So woman entrepreneur is a person who accepts challenging role to meet her personal needs and become economically independent. A strong desire to do something positive is an inbuilt quality of entrepreneurial woman, who is capable of contributing values in both family and social life. Entrepreneurial women are involved in business activities at all levels, making important contributions to economic growth. While many women are succeeding in business, they are still constrained by the gender values, norms and stereotypes in the environment in which they operate. Because of their reproductive roles, they tend to be responsible for business as well as for most of the unpaid work in the household. They have less time to devote to their work and they are less mobile. A key issue, therefore, is whether women entrepreneurs face specific problems in setting up businesses that are different from those faced by male-owned businesses. Like young entrepreneurs, women may have particular problems with raising finance and may have had less chance than most men to accumulate the confidence, skills and contacts necessary to start and run a successful business. In addition, gender discrimination by finance and support providers, customers or employees may be an issue. Women are also often perceived as weak, passive and irrational. The present article deals with the concept of women entrepreneur, reasons to become entrepreneurs, advantages of women entrepreneur, present status, impediments, measures to remove obstacles, steps taken by the Indian Government for promotion and development of women entrepreneurship in India and some leading women entrepreneurs of India.

In conclusion it can be said that to respond the needs of women, it requires devising measures to integrate women as decision-makers, participants and beneficiaries in all relevant development activities and to address the totality of problems women face as entrepreneurs, due to the wide spectrum of elements affecting the equitable participation of women in development.

Keywords: Business, Entrepreneur, Gender, Gender Inequality.