Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: AN OVERVIEW

DR. RAJESHWARI M. SHETTAR

Associate Professor, Department of Commerce,
Shri. Hurakadli Ajja Shikshan Samiti’s
Smt. K. S. Jigalur Arts and Dr. (Smt.) S. M. Sheshgiri
Commerce College for Women, DHARWAD-8.

[email protected]

ABSTRACT
Women empowerment means to give freedom to women to make decisions of their own and make a better place for
them in the society. Two important factors for women empowerment are education and entrepreneurship. A recent
report by the World Bank says that, India can grow in double digits if more women participate in the product line of
the Indian economy. Self determinations, expectation for recognition, self-esteem and career goal are the key drivers
of women entrepreneurship. India can be a powerful nation only if we empower our women. According to
Schumpeter “women who innovate, imitate or adopt a business activity” is called as women entrepreneur. The
present study is descriptive in nature and is based on secondary data. This paper provides an insight into the
problems or challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, measures for their development, categories and the essential
ingredients of women entrepreneurship. The study found that,
Key words: Women empowerment, Women entrepreneurship.

INTRODUCTION
Women entrepreneurship is the process in which women initiate a business, gather all resources, undertake risks,
face challenges, provides employment to others and manages the business independently. Approximately 1/3rd of the
entrepreneurs in the world are women entrepreneurs. Women constitute around half of the total world population.
So is in India also. They are regarded as the better half of the society. In traditional societies, they were confined to
the four walls of houses performing household activities. In modern societies, they have come out of the four walls
to participate in all sorts of activities. Women have been performing exceedingly well in different spheres of
activities like academics, politics, administration, social work and so on.
Women entrepreneurs may be defined as the women or group of women who initiate organize and co-operate a
business enterprise. Government of India has defined women entrepreneurs as an enterprise owned and controlled
by a woman having a minimum financial interest of 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of employment
generated in the enterprise to women. The Indian women are no longer treated as show pieces to be kept at home,
they are also enjoying the impact of globalization and making an influence not only on international sphere. Women
are doing wonderful job striking a balance between their house and career.
Women empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, educational, gender or economic strength of
individuals and communities of women. Social and economic development of women is important for overall
economic development of any society or a country. In traditional Indian societies, they were confined to four walls.
In modern era, they come out of four walls to participate in all types of activities including entrepreneurship; In
India empowering women through entrepreneurship has become an integral part of our development efforts because
of three important reasons like women development, economic growth and social stability. Our increasing

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3843

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

dependency on service sector has created several entrepreneurial opportunities particularly for women where they
can excel their skills with maintaining balance in their life.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To study the problems or challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
2. To study the measures for development of women entrepreneurship.
3. To study the categories of women entrepreneurship.
4. To study the essential ingredients of women entrepreneurship.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The present study is descriptive in nature and is based on secondary data. The data has been extracted from various
sources like research articles, publications from Government of India and authenticated websites.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 Dr. Upasana Thakur (2017) the article entitled “Social Empowerment of Women through Micro Finance
Institutions-An Empirical Study”. The primary objective of this paper was to evaluate the social empowerment of
women as a result of participation in joint liability group. To test this, a set of variables were selected to assess the
social empowerment of women. The study found that, there is a significant relation between age and social features
like moving independently, expressing views freely.
 Hind Bouzekraoui and Driss Ferhane (2017) the article entitled “An Exploratory Study of Women’s
Entrepreneurship in Morocco”. This article presents the results of an exploratory study conducted among 80
Moroccan female entrepreneurs. The study found that, the Moroccan entrepreneur is a married woman aged between
28 and 40 with a number of children ranging from 1 to 2.
 Parveen Kumar (2015) the article entitled “A Study on Women Entrepreneurs in India”. This study is to know
about the different issue which drag back the abilities of women entrepreneur and conjointly about the role of
women entrepreneur in economic development. The study found that, there is need of continuous attempt to inspire,
encourage, motivate and co-operate with women entrepreneurs, awareness programs ought to be conducted on a
mass scale with the intension of making awareness among women regarding the various areas to conduct business.
PROBLEMS OR CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Women in India have faced many problems to get ahead their life in business. Women entrepreneurs face a series of
problems right from the beginning till the enterprise functions. The problems of Indian women pertain to her
responsibility towards family, society and work. The traditions, customs, socio cultural values, ethics, motherhood,
physically weak, feelings of insecurity etc. are some peculiar problems that the Indian women are coming across
while they jump into entrepreneurship. Besides these problems the other problems faces by women entrepreneurs
are as follows:
Family Ties: Women are expected to spend more time with their family members. They do not encourage women to
travel extensively for exploiting business opportunities.
Lack of Education: Women are generally denied of higher education, especially in rural areas and under developed
countries. Women are not allowed to enrich their knowledge in technical and research areas to introduce new
products.
Social Barriers: Marriage and family life are given more importance than career and social life in Indian society.
Lack of Finance: Family members do not encourage women entrepreneurs. They hesitate to invest money in the
business venture initiated by women entrepreneurs. Bank and other financial institutions do not consider middle
class women entrepreneurs as proper applicants for setting up their projects and they are hesitate to provide financial
assistance to unmarried women or girls as they are unsure as to who will repay the loan.
Tough Competition: Women face lot of competition from men. Due to limited mobility they find difficult to
compete with men.
Unfavorable Environment: The society is dominated by males. Many business men are not interested to have
business relationship with women entrepreneurs. Male generally do not encourage women entrepreneurs.
Lack of Persistent Nature: Women generally have sympathy for others. They are very emotional. This nature
should not allow them to get easily cheated in business.
Lack of Mental Strength: Business involves risk. Women entrepreneurs get upset very easily when loss arises in
business.
Lack of Information: Women entrepreneurs are not generally aware of the subsidies and incentives available for
them. Lack of knowledge may prevent them from availing the special schemes.
Mobility: Moving in and around the market, is again a tough job for middle class women entrepreneurs in Indian
social system.

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3844

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

Scarcity of Raw Material: Most of the women enterprises are plagued by scarcity of raw material and necessary
inputs. Added to this are the high prices of raw material at the minimum of discount on the other.
Low Risk Bearing: Women in India lead a protected life. They are less educated and economically not self-
dependent. All these reduce their ability to bear risk involved in running an enterprise. Risk bearing is an essential
requisite of a successful entrepreneur.
MEASURES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Right efforts on all areas are required in the development of women entrepreneurial activities. Following efforts can
be taken into account for effective development of women entrepreneurs;
 Promotional Help: Consider women as specific target group for all developmental programs. Government and
NGOs must provide assistance to women entrepreneurs both in financial and non financial areas.
 Training: Women entrepreneurs must be given adequate training to operate and run a business successfully.
Training has to be given to women who are still reluctant to take up the entrepreneurial task.
 Selection of Machinery and Technology: Women require assistance in selection of machinery and technology.
Assistance must be provided to them in technical areas so that the business unit becomes successful.
 Finance: Finance is one of the major problems faced by women entrepreneurs. Both family and government
organizations should be liberal in providing financial assistance to them.
 Marketing Assistance: Due to limited mobility, women are unable to market their products. Assistance must be
provided to help them to market their products successfully in the economic environment.
 Family Support: Family should support women entrepreneurs and encourage them to establish and run business
successfully.
 Better educational faculties and schemes should be extended to women folk from government part.
 Encourage women’s participation in decision making. Economic necessity. Independence. Success stories of friends
and relatives. Cooperation of family.
CATEGORIES OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Women entrepreneurs can be broadly categories into five categories
 Affluent Entrepreneurs: Are those women entrepreneurs who hail from rich business families. They are the
daughters, daughter-in-laws, sisters, sister-in-laws and wives of affluent people in the society. Many of them are
engaged in beauty parlour, interior decoration, book publishing, film distribution and the like. The family supports
this type of women entrepreneurs in carrying out their responsibilities.
 Pull Factors: Women in towns and cities take up entrepreneurship as a challenge to do something new and to be
economically independent. These are coming under the category of pull factors. They belong to educated women
who generally take up small and medium industries where risk is low. Here, women usually start service centers
schools, food catering centers, restaurants, grocery shops etc.
 Push Factors: There are some women entrepreneurs who accept entrepreneurial activities to overcome financial
difficulties. The family situation forces them either to develop the existing family business or to start new ventures
to improve the economic conditions of the family. Such categories of entrepreneurs are termed as push factors.
 Rural Factors: Women in rural areas/villages start enterprises which needs least organizing skill and less risk.
Dairy products, pickles, fruit juices, pappads and jagger making are coming under this category of rural
entrepreneur.
 Self - Employed Entrepreneurs: Poor and very poor women in villages and town rely heavily on their own efforts
for sustenance. They start tiny and small enterprises like brooms making, wax candle making, providing tea and
coffee to offices, ironing firm etc. Such women are called self employed entrepreneurs.
Table 1: Women Entrepreneurs and Female Literacy (%)
States Women Entrepreneurs Female Literacy
Tamil Nadu 13.5 73.4
Kerala 11.3 92.1
Andhra Pradesh 10.5 59.1
West Bengal 10.3 70.5
Maharashtra 8.2 75.9
Source: wikipedia.org

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3845

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

100 92.1
90
73.4 75.9
80 70.5
70 59.1 Women
60 Entrepreneurs
50
40
30 Female Literacy
20 13.5 11.3 10.5 10.3 8.2
10
0
Tamil Nadu Kerala Andhra Pradesh West Bengal Maharashtra

Table 2: Women Entrepreneurs in India

States No. of Units No. of Women Percentage
Registered Entrepreneurs
Tamil Nadu 9,618 2,930 30.36
Uttar Pradesh 7,980 3,180 39.84
Kerala 5,487 2,135 38.91
Punjab 4,791 1,618 33.77
Maharashtra 4,339 1,394 32.12
Gujarat 3,872 1,538 39.72
Karnataka 3,822 1,026 26.84
Madhya Pradesh 2,967 842 28.38
Other States 14,576 4,185 28.71
Total 57,452 18,848 32.82
Source: wikipedia.org

16000
14000
12000 No of Units
10000 Registered

8000
6000 No. of Women
4000 Entrepreneurs
2000
0
Percentage

GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCHEMES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

 Stand up India Scheme: Features of Stand up India scheme:
a. Loan ranging of Rs. 10 Lakh up to Rs. 1 crore.
b. At least one SC/ST and one woman borrower from every bank branch.
c. This enterprise may be in manufacturing, service or in the trading sector.
d. Apply online at www.standupmitra.in
 Mudra Scheme: Categories of Mudra Loan:
a. Shishu: covering loans up to Rs. 50,000.

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3846

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

b. Kishor: covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh.

c. Tarun: covering loans above Rs. 5lakh to 10 lakh.
 Pradhan Mantri Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP):
Categories of Beneficiaries under PMEGP Beneficiary’s Own Rate of Subsidy
Contribution
(Project Cost)
Area (location of project / unit) Urban Rural
General Category 10% 15% 25%
Special (including SC/ST/OBC/ Minorities/ 05% 25% 35%
Women, Physically handicapped, Ex-servicemen,
NER Hill and Border areas etc.

 Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE):
Features of CGTMSE:
a. Loan up to Rs. 2 crore.
b. Loan for both startups and existing business
c. Loan in the form of term loan or working capital or both
d. Apply directly at bank
 TREAD Schemes for Women: Three components of TREAD:
a. Credit
b. Training and Counseling
c. Eliciting information on related needs
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
 Self Belief: Realizing the self worth is the first step of entrepreneurship. Unless you believe in yourself, you can’t
make others believe in you. One needs to truly believe in their dreams and their perusal. Self-belief imbibes
confidence, which helps you gain respect and trust amongst your peers. Confidence improves your networking
skills, which is one of the pillars of successful venture.
 Ambition: Always have high ambition. In India, we are often asked to keep our ambitions low as women as our life
is assumed to circle around family but onus is on us to be successful in both professional and personal life and
accept it as challenge. One needs to be really ambitious to strive towards their goal. Never settle for second best.
 Passion and Persistence: Be always passionate about your dreams, ambitions. Talk about them loud. Discuss them
understand them and be persistent to achieve them. There shall be several hiccups while you are going through your
enterprising journey from family inhibitions to finances, but never give up. Just remember you started this journey
as solo and success might be just round the corner. You have to consistently push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Always feel joyful while doing the things you enjoy or passionate about. Always attach your passion with sense of
purpose. It could be as small as to bring a difference in someone’s life. This will give joy.
 Humility and a Willingness to Learn: The more humble you are more successful you shall be, there is a saying
“work hard in silence let your success make the noise”. Each day in the entrepreneurship playground is to learn and
grow. Never be overconfident about yourself and stop learning. One needs to constantly upgrade themselves with
knowledge and innovation. Always be open to the criticism and conversations and take them politely.
 Hard Work: Hard work is the key mantra for any one. Prioritize your day today task and be prepared to invest more
time as against your key stakeholders, because your enterprise is your baby. No one can do justice with it the way
you can. Initial days shall be difficult, set high goals for you and keep moving.
 Clarity of thought and a Firm Drive: Women must be of strong intent and be decisive of the purpose of
establishing her business from the initial objective, to the execution layout, to the end goal. It is important to carve
out a definite roadmap whether it is a purely passion driven pet project or with a commercial perspective to it
whether to maintain it as a small scale boutique business or future plans of growth and expansion. All these factors
need to be addressed with crystal clarity, which would then form the foundation for the framework for their
business.
 Constant Investment in Learning: Acquiring knowledge is an endless process and it is vital that women are aware
of the current trends and surveys to implement newer practices into their business. Acquire the ideas and solutions
from attending seminars, events, workshops, conferences etc. Peer to peer platforms are created for the benefit of
entrepreneurs to come together and share their business.

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3847

Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930

FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

1. Traditionally, women’s occupational status has always been closely associated with the home and family. She has
only secondary status because she is economically depending on her father or husband. At present, the economic
position stresses and strains the modern society brought forth in its wake have compelled many women to come out
to augment their family income.
2. The main reason for starting an enterprise by women is to meet their economic need. The contemporary women’s
wish to supplement their family income is a welcoming trend.
3. In India empowering women through entrepreneurship has become an integral part of our development efforts
because of three important reasons like women development, economic growth and social stability.
4. Our increasing dependency on service sector has created several entrepreneurial opportunities particularly for
women where they can excel their skills with maintaining balance in their life.
5. Empowerment of Women could only be achieved if their economic and social status is improved. This could be
possible only by adopting definite social and economic policies with a view of total development of women and to
make them realize that they have the potential to be strong human beings.

SUGGESTIONS
1. The government has to allocate more funds to improve the financial performance of women entrepreneurs.
2. The government has to liberalize the licensing procedures for smooth entry of women entrepreneurs in the area of
business.
3. The development programmes have to be designed to empower the women technologically and politically.
4. The family members of the women entrepreneurs have to co-operate with them to carry on their business.
5. The society has to take steps to remove the disparity of gender bias to develop women entrepreneurship.
CONCLUSION
Women entrepreneurship refers to business or organization started by a woman or group of women. There has been
a change in role of women due to growth in education, urbanization, industrialization and awareness of democratic
values. Traditionally, entrepreneurship has been a male-dominated chase however several of today’s most
impressive and rousing entrepreneurs are women. Women have broken down the glass ceiling of the traditional
thought long prevailing in world and have emerged as successful entrepreneurs. Many factors like urbanization,
technical progress, women education etc. have profoundly changed these traditional conditions even in a developing
country like India. These days India has been the depiction of women in the top echelons of banking and financial
service and many more sectors and even has emerged as powerful entrepreneurs. Women in India have already
started to follow the direction that the women of the western world took more than eighty years ago. Women are
increasingly becoming conscious of their existence, their rights and their work situations.

REFERENCES:
1. Dr. Upasana Thakur “Social Empowerment of Women through Micro Finance Institutions-An Empirical Study”,
International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences (IJRESS), February, 2017.
2. Jadhawrao Madhavi Sugaraj Dr. Salve P.S. “A Study of Women Entrepreneurship and Their Problems in the
Development in Western Maharashtra”, IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR-JEF), Mar- Apr, 20-14.
3. Hind Bouzekraoui and Driss Ferhane “An Exploratory Study of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Morocco”, Journal of
Entrepreneurship, Research and Practice, IBIMA Publishing, 2017.
4. Parveen Kumar “A Study on Women Entrepreneurs in India”, International journal of Applied Science and
Technology Research Excellence Nov- Dec, 2015.
5. Stanzin Mantok (2016) “Role of Women Entrepreneurship in promoting Women Empowerment” International
journal of Management and Applied Science, Oct, 2016.
6. Duflo E. “Women’s Empowerment and Economic Development”, National Bureau of Economic Research,
Cambridge, 2011.
7. Kadam, R. N. “Empowerment of Women in India-An Attempt to Fill the Gender Gap”, International Journal of
Scientific and Research Publications, 2012.
8. Murugesan, P., Neelakandan, S., & Sankar, G. (2020). The multiple postcolonial identify in salman rushdie’s
shame. International Journal of Humanities, Literature & Arts, 3(1), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.31295/ijhla.v3n1.120
9. Sankar, G., Prabhavathi, J., & Sankarakumar, S. (2019). A cross-cultural analysis of female protagonist on selecting
novel of chitra banarjee divakaruni and bharati mukherjee. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and
Culture, 5(5), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.21744/ijllc.v5n5.719
10. http://www.slideshare.net/puneetsharma5688/women-empowermentpuneet-sharma.

Volume XII, Issue III, 2020 Page No: 3848