Dissertation on Push and Pull Factors for Women Entrepreneurs India

This dissertation investigates the push and pull factors influencing women entrepreneurs in India, acknowledging the shifting status of women in the professional sector. It examines social, economic, political, psychological, and family factors that motivate women to start their own businesses. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with Indian women entrepreneurs to analyze these factors. The study explores both negative push factors, such as lack of employment opportunities and dissatisfaction, and positive pull factors, like passion and creativity. Ultimately, the dissertation aims to understand the complexities of women entrepreneurship in India, contributing to the broader discussion of gender equality and economic development, with the complete paper available on Desklib for further exploration and research.

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Dissertation:
A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Academic year: 2017-2018
Name of the student: Pratyusha Samineni
Name of the university: Newcastle University Business School
Name of the course: MSc. Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Student Number: 140428083
Supervisor’s Name: Dr.Andreas Giazitzoglu
1

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Acknowledgements
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my guide and mentor, Dr.Andreas Giazitzoglu,
who has continually and consistently motivated and inspired me during the duration of my
research. Without his persistent guidance and assistance, the completion of this dissertation
would have been impossible.
I am also grateful to all the people involved in this research, without whose cooperation, I would
not have been able to complete the dissertation. Every member of the dissertation committee has
provided adequate professional and personal guidance which aided me in my endeavour. I would
also like to thank the participants who gave me valuable insight into what it feels like to be a
woman entrepreneur in India. I would also like to mention my family, who supported me
throughout this process.
2

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to study the pull-push theory concerning women
entrepreneurship in India. In India, like other nations of the world, women are gradually
beginning to expand their horizons and gain prominence as far as the professional sector is
concerned. Women are no longer limited to the domestic sphere in India. Various social,
economic, political, psychological and family factors are pushing women to start their own
business and venture into entrepreneurship. There are a number of push and pull factors that
drive women to do so. While negative aspects provoke some women like lack of suitable
employment and dissatisfaction with existing employment conditions, some women are pulled
into this industry by the mere force of passion and creativity.
The following paper attempts to analyse these factors and depicts the extent of their influence. A
detailed review of the existing literature is performed, which studies the various factors affecting
women in entrepreneurship and a list of facts and figures concerning the same. The push and pull
theory has also been studied, with detailed charts and graphical evidence. The paper poses the
research question, “How does push and pull theory influence women entrepreneurs in India?”.
An inductive research approach utilised in the paper, where there is an exploration of the new
phenomenon of women entrepreneurship. The data collection and analysis method is qualitative,
with semi-structured interviews of women entrepreneurs in India. An analysis of the interview
results has been provided, along with a final discussion on multiple aspects related to women
entrepreneurship in India.
3

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................7
2.1 Women’s role in business and entrepreneurship...................................................................7
2.2 Facts and Figures about Women Entrepreneurs in India.......................................................8
2.3 Push and Pull Theory...........................................................................................................18
Chapter 3: Research Methodology................................................................................................22
3.1 The research question: How does push and pull theory influence women entrepreneurs in
India?.........................................................................................................................................22
3.2 Research Philosophy – Interpretivism.................................................................................23
3.3 Research Approach – Inductive...........................................................................................24
3.4 Research Method – Qualitative...........................................................................................24
3.5 Research Methodology – Phenomenology..........................................................................25
3.6 Time Horizon & Sampling– Cross-sectional.......................................................................27
3.7 Research Ethics....................................................................................................................27
3.8 Data Collection & Data Analysis........................................................................................28
3.9 Limitations...........................................................................................................................28
Chapter 4: Findings & Analysis:...................................................................................................30
4.1 Introduction:........................................................................................................................30
4.2 Analysis...............................................................................................................................37
4.3 Discussion............................................................................................................................39
Chapter 5: Conclusion...................................................................................................................43
References:....................................................................................................................................43
Appendix: .....................................................................................................................................52
4

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
5

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Chapter 1: Introduction
In most cultures around the world, a common assumption is prevalent – that women
should be restricted to the domestic sphere and are only capable of maintaining a family.
However, women today are challenging such backward notions and competing with their male
counterparts in a globalised and highly competitive business arena. In India, the status of women
has undergone a drastic change in the last few years, owing to globalisation and industrialisation.
With the education of more and more women, women gained awareness and have shifted from
their roles in the kitchen to that of professional activity (Bodkin, 1999). Entrepreneurship has
always regarded primarily as a male-dominated sphere from the very beginning. However, with
the passage of time, such stereotypes have been shattered, and India has seen the rise of some of
the most inspirational female entrepreneurs in recent times. As such, it is essential to understand
the various factors that push women to become entrepreneurs. In India at present, women are
competing at a national level with men as far as business is concerned, thus affecting economic
development as a whole. Women are no longer restricted to selected professions but have
expanded their horizons to trade, engineering and industry as well. This, in turn, contributes to
the growth of the nation as a whole.
Women, with proper resources and education, can prove themselves to be potentially
productive forces of the nation. There are many social, cultural, religious, psychological and
economic factors which have led to a growth of women entrepreneurship in India. One of the
most obvious reasons behind women (both urban and rural) opting for entrepreneurship is an
economic and social well-being. Since more and more women are stepping out of the home to
earn, they are gaining financial independence. Apart from attractive incomes, better lifestyle,
personal satisfaction, the ability to hone and utilise one’s talents and skills, assurance of career,
family security and self-confidence are some of the other reasons why a large number of Indian
women are venturing into entrepreneurship today. Out of all the factors, however, social, family
and psychological factors play a crucial role (Krishnamoorthy &Balasubramani, 2014). Social
factors determine the lifestyles of individuals. More and more women today are being grasped by
an innate desire to go beyond the restrictions imposed on them by society and embrace the
opportunities that the world has in store for them.
6

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Moreover, in India, violence against women is common. Women are often subjected to
domestic and sexual violence; for such women, the only way to survive is to find their means of
livelihood. This paper examines how positive aspects do not always trigger the push and pull
factors behind the growth of women entrepreneurship. There might be negative factors like
dissatisfaction with existing factors, lack of suitable opportunities for employment, family issues,
violence and atrocious acts committed against them which move them towards a path of
entrepreneurship.
It must be understood that in a developing nation like India, entrepreneurship is no less
than a colossus achievement for women. However, women today are becoming more aware of
their inherent rights, and proper education empowers them to pursue their ambitions. It must also
be realised that no nation could progress with half of its population deprived of their fundamental
human rights to work and earn money. The pull and push theory has been applied to understand
the factors that play a crucial role in promoting women entrepreneurship. “Push” factors refer to
the negative factors while “pull” factors are relatively positive. A desire to be independent and
have a career of their own is one of the major motivational factors that drive women to become
entrepreneurs. Women today are more inclined to combining their roles as mothers, wives and
homemakers with that of their professional lives.
This research paper attempts to study the various push and pull factors that affect women
entrepreneurship in India. This would allow the researcher to explore the intricacies of this new
phenomenon. The researcher would follow a qualitative data analysis method. In order to
understand the push and pull factors, simple quantitative data would not be sufficient. Instead,
semi-structured interviews would be more wholesome and give the researcher more detailed
insight into the various social, economic and psychological factors influencing women
entrepreneurship in India.
7

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Chapter 2: Literature Review
The following sub-sections will discuss the opinion of scholars on women
entrepreneurship, as well as setting the scene between woman entrepreneurship and various
internal/external factors that compel a woman to become an entrepreneur in India.
8

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
2.1 Women’s role in business and entrepreneurship
Women in the business enterprise have been to a great extent ignored in science and society.
Researchers started the investigation or in other words, the study of female business in the late
1970s when women joined the skilled workforce in higher numbers contrasted with earlier years
(Parker, 2010). The surge in the quantity of women entrepreneurs has created various vital
research exploring the issue of gender and enterprise. The first ever work produced relating to
women in direct productive work was achieved in 1970 with Ester Boserup's book, 'Woman’s'
Role in Economic Development' which was a result of Boserup's research involvement in India
(Boserup, 1970). However, not everyone shared the same opinion about a woman in economic
development. The majority of classical economists doubted women with quick decision-making
capacities. Pujol (1992), states that it could have induced from Adam's Smith's work The Wealth
of Nations (1776) that woman is relatively imperceptible in the creation of The Wealth of
Nations, besides their conspicuous part in adding to the population. Pujol (1995) contends that
the classical, and also some neo-classical successors such as Jevons, Edgeworth, Marshall and
Pigou-acknowledge woman as irrational and unfit as monetary specialists. Pigou known to be
among the neo-classical financial experts and the father of the welfare economy yet has
contended that women are weaker and more blemished than men and hence welfare might be
expanded by keeping woman compensations lower than that of men's (Pujol, 1992). Similar
work comprehends that woman have restricted roles in the market economy. Besides, it is their
parents and relatives who decide on their education just as how Smith does not confide in the
young women to pick their subjects of studies astutely (Bodkin, 1999).
9

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
For this reason, the chance to take in the scholarly issues as their profession decisions are
constrained. Jean Baptize Say contends that women are unreasonable buyers. He epitomises this
issue with women' being luxurious towards precious gems (Bodkin, 1999). Say, in his work
Olbie, states that women' standard wage is lower than that of men since it is men who must help
a family while women bolster just themselves (Forget, 1997). With similar views, the concept
known as glass ceiling originated where women were unable to climb up the ladder of success
due to a perceived barrier (Bullard & Wright, 1993). The current discriminations against women
only appear to be unbiased, but in reality, discriminations have woven into the status quo or
norms – which is the reason many people do not see them or question them (Meyerson &
Fletcher, 2000). On the other hand, some scholars have assumed that there is no difference
between male and female entrepreneurs (Jennings & Brush, 2013). While scholars argued on
both sides, there where researches who extended their work concerning what completes a woman
to become an entrepreneur in India.
Krishnamoorthy &Balasubramani (2014), recognised the essential women entrepreneurial
inspiration variables and its effect on entrepreneurial achievement. The investigation identified
aspiration, aptitudes and information, family bolster, advertise openings, freedom, government
appropriation and fulfilment as the crucial, entrepreneurial and motivational components. The
investigation likewise reasoned that aspiration information and expertise autonomy
measurements of entrepreneurial motivational have a critical effect on entrepreneurial
achievement. Skill, knowledge and adaptability in business were acknowledged to be the leading
reasons for women to emerge into entrepreneurship by G. Palaniappan et al. (2012). Similarly,
Samani, (2008) thesis on women engaged in the food processing revealed that the reason for
success was due to the expertise and unique skill of preparing and processing food.In the same
way, an investigation by Jesurajan&Prabhu(2011), concludes that the women business enterprise
must be formed appropriately with entrepreneurial attributes and skills to meet the adjustments in
trends, challenges of the worldwide markets and be sufficiently capable of managing and
endeavouring greatness in the entrepreneurial field. Lall&Sahai (2008), distinguished
Psychographic factors like level of duty, entrepreneurial difficulties and future arrangement for
an extension, in light of statistic factors. The unique entrepreneur's qualities as self-recognition
confidence, entrepreneurial force and operational issue for possible mechanisms for development
and expansion.
10

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
In G. Palaniappan et al. (2012) examination reasoned that because of the absence of appropriate
training and education they are not able to sustain in the market. Deshpande &Sethi (2009),
research work said that for the advancement of woman entrepreneurs emphasises ought to be on
teaching women’ strata of the populace, spreading mindfulness and awareness among women to
surpass in the undertaking field. She also added, influencing them to understand their qualities
and vital position in the general public and the enormous commitment they can make for their
industry and even the whole economy. In G. Palaniappan et al. (2012), article it has been
examined that women have been useful in breaking their hindrances inside the points of
confinement of their homes by going into differed sorts of careers and administrations. This
examination had additionally been completed to analyse the motivational elements and different
components that impact women to wind up business visionaries, the critical quality and
shortcoming of women’ business visionaries and the ecological openings and dangers which
advance the enterprise, and to offer proposals to promote women’ business enterprise of chose
regions in Tamilnadu. Relatedly, Cohoon et al. (2010), introduced a formal investigation of men
and women’ business visionaries’ inspirations, foundation and encounters. This examination
recognised best five monetary and motivational components inspiring women to end up
businesswomen. These want to assemble the riches, the desire to underwrite claim business
thoughts they had, the interest of start-up culture, a long-standing want to possess their particular
organisation and working with another person did not request them. The examination inferred
that the women are particularly worried about securing scholarly capital than men. Coaching is
essential to women, which gives inspiration and the monetary help of business accomplices,
encounters and all around created proficient system.
Bhardwaj et al. (n.d), the investigation had uncovered that the significant obstacles women faced
was during the beginning and running of an organisation by and large originate from financing
and balancing of life (Yadawad&Chandawarkar, 2016). The fund is one of the significant issues
for women’ business people (G. Palaniappan, 2012). Mincer (1962), laid accentuation on
deciding components influencing of women, along with more focus of wedded women’s choice
to take an interest in the work drive. Mincer demonstrated that spouses would probably make an
interest in the work drive if husbands’ profit were lower than perpetual income. Also, if the level
of education of the family head was high, changes in permanent and transitory salary feebly
influenced cooperation rate.
11

A study on the push and pull factors that influence women to become entrepreneurs in India
Additionally, it noticed that unemployment and having young children in families affected work
constrain cooperation, yet statistical significance was deficient. Thampi (2007) proposal seeks to
comprehend the relationship between women’ work and children's well-being in a particular
social setting. It discovered that as the quantity of exercises on the work front expands, the
measure of time that moms spend on childcare diminishes. This investigation demonstrates that
however maternal business does not bring about youngster dreariness results, it positively
obliges women in discovering interchange mind courses of action and also convincing them to
perform the vast majority of the work in the childcare administration. Bhardwaj et al. (n.d), also
identified that the external factors such as discrimination due to gender, unapproachability to
data, training, infrastructure and so on. Some internal factors like risk avoidance by women, the
absence of certainty, the lack of vision of vital pioneer and so on can likewise make hurdles for
the women business enterprise development.
Similarly, Sing(2008), said the obstructions in the event of women business enterprise are mostly
because of the absence of collaboration with fruitful business visionaries, social un-
acknowledgement as women business visionaries, family obligation, sex segregation, missing
network, low priority given by bankers to give advance to women business visionaries (Disawa,
2015). The examination of Lall&Sahai (2008) proposed that though there has been a significant
development in the number of women electing to work in family claimed business yet despite
everything they still have lower status and face more operational difficulties in running a
business. To fight obstacle’s Bhardwaj et al. (n.d) investigation proposed that government should
set a few priorities for women business people for the division of industrial plots, sheds and
different amenities. Additionally, careful steps ought to be attempted to stay away from the
misuse of facilities by the men in the name of the women (Yadawad&Chandawarkar, 2016).
Sing(2008)recommended the therapeutic measures like advancing small-scale ventures, opening
institutional edge work, anticipating and pulling to develop and bolster the victors and so on
(Disawa, 2015).
12