Exploring the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Issue 2 (10th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mustafa, Faisal; Khursheed, Ambreen; Fatima, Maham; Rao, Marriam
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender and entrepreneurship. Volume 13:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2021-06-10
• Subjects: Women entrepreneurship -- Crisis -- Covid-19 -- Business survival; Businesswomen -- Periodicals; Entrepreneurship -- Sex differences -- Periodicals; 338.0405
• DOI: 10.1108/IJGE-09-2020-0149
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-6266

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on micro-businesses owned by women borrowers of microfinance institutions and to provide policy suggestions to assist women entrepreneurs in managing such an unexpected crisis from a qualitative perspective within developing countries such as Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a qualitative research design to explore the impact of COVID-19 on women's entrepreneurial activities. Seven women entrepreneurs were selected and semi-structured interviews with focused group discussion under case study research design are used. Thereby providing a contemporary view of the issues faced by women entrepreneurs in the period of huge social and economic upheaval. Findings: The results provide valuable insights about how the COVID-19 crisis affected women entrepreneurs by particularly considering household income, business sales, lifestyle and mental health. The liquidation of women-led businesses indicated the necessity to reconsider creativity and digitalization for business survival. Moreover, the results also revealed that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical, mental and economic well-being of women highlights the need for considering gender gap issues in forming response policies for COVID-19 in developing countries. Originality/value: As the COVID-19 crisis is a recent and existing phenomenon, this study is among the first to explore particularly the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on micro-enterprises mainly owned and managed by women. Thereby claiming that COVID-19 not only physically but also psychologically affected women entrepreneurs. Moreover, the study highlights a need of skill focused training programs for women entrepreneurs to make sure that they can protect their businesses during such difficult times.