Values and women-led social entrepreneurship. Issue 2 (28th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borquist, Bruce R.; de Bruin, Anne
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender and entrepreneurship. Volume 11:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2019-02-28
• Subjects: Gender -- Religion -- Values -- Empowerment -- Southeast Asia -- Social entrepreneurship; Businesswomen -- Periodicals; Entrepreneurship -- Sex differences -- Periodicals; 338.0405
• DOI: 10.1108/IJGE-08-2018-0093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-6266

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This paper aims to identify and categorise the values expressed in women-led social entrepreneurship based on a typology of universal values. It explores the influence of gender and religious faith on the values that inspire social entrepreneurial organisations to engage in positive social change. Design/methodology/approach: Inductive multiple case study research investigates the values manifest in five social entrepreneurial organisations founded and led by women in three Southeast Asian countries. Findings: Organisations and their women-leaders express values related to benevolence, universalism, self-direction and security. Gender and religious faith are found to be mediators that influence approaches to social transformation. Research limitations/implications: Purposive sampling and interpretive research design favour rich description but limit the generalisability of the findings. Further enquiry is needed into the gender-values-religion nexus in social entrepreneurship. Practical implications: Social entrepreneurship is shown to be a process embedded in and motivated by prosocial values of benevolence and social justice and other values of self-direction and security. Findings provide evidence for the critical but often overlooked influence of gender and religious faith on the values foundation of social entrepreneurship. Social implications: Social entrepreneurial organisations led by women contribute to positive social change through the values they incorporate and express. Originality/value: Research on the link between gender, values and religious faith in social entrepreneurship is virtually non-existent.