Lifelong activism and women's entrepreneurship: how a social movement organization improves conditions for self-employed women in India. Issue 5 (12th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colovic, Ana; Mehrotra, Sonia
• Is Part Of: European business review. Volume 32:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 937
• Page End: 958
• Publication Date: 2020-06-12
• Subjects: India -- Social movement -- Union -- Women's entrepreneurship; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Management -- Periodicals; Business -- Periodicals; 658.005
• DOI: 10.1108/EBR-09-2019-0215
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-534X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a local trade union improves living conditions for women entrepreneurs in India and how its activities have evolved over time. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted a longitudinal case study of the self-employed women's association (SEWA) in India. Founded in 1972, this organization fosters and supports women's entrepreneurship. The approach of this study combines qualitative face-to-face interviews and secondary data analysis. Findings: The findings highlight the fact that SEWA, which combines the features of a trade union and a social movement, improves women's conditions in several different ways. The study shows that the organization's main role has evolved from creating a community to expanding it and finally to becoming an agent of societal change. Originality/value: The study contributes to the literature by analyzing how locally grown organizations fight social exclusion and improve the conditions of deprived groups in emerging economies.