Call for papers: "Gender Issues in Entrepreneurship"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business.

For many years the opinion has been that male activity predominates in entrepreneurship. However, over time, women are gradually becoming a very important part of the world of entrepreneurs. Today, women represent more than one third of all people involved in entrepreneurial activity. In recent years they have attracted increasing attention and separate study among researchers.

There are two main reasons why this “kind” of entrepreneur needs to be studied separately: a) female entrepreneurs have been recognised as an important untapped source of economic growth, considering that they create new jobs for themselves and others, and provide different solutions to management, organisation and business problems and obstacles as well as to the exploitation of business opportunities; b) female entrepreneurs have been largely neglected both in society in general and in the social sciences, in light of the fact that mainstream research, policies and programmes tend to be “men streamed”.

Even with all the obstacles faced when starting and managing their businesses, more and more women today are establishing their own businesses. Although there is a trend towards increase in female entrepreneurship, this increase could be even greater if we can eliminate various barriers of different natures, thus enabling the potential of women to come to full expression.

This special issue will focus on gender issues in entrepreneurship and/or small business perspectives. Both micro- and macro-level studies are invited, and both quantitative and qualitative approaches are welcome. We also encourage authors to come forward with emerging and groundbreaking topics to diversify and widen gender-based research.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Government policy on gender and entrepreneurship
• Gender and motivational factors
• Gender and innovation activities
• Gender and risk management
• Gender and financing sources of entrepreneurial ventures
• Gender and business performance
• Gender and entrepreneurial intentions
• Gender and entrepreneurship education
• Gender and economic growth
• Gendered understanding of corporate entrepreneurship
• Gendered understanding of social entrepreneurship
• Gender, ethics and social responsibility
• Institutional support on gender and entrepreneurship
• Gender and entrepreneurship in developing and transition countries
• Inspiring stories

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 15 June, 2015