Women entrepreneurship is a powerful aspect for the India’s development, acting as a significant driver of economic growth, social change, and empowerment. Women empowerment increased through skills, talents and innovative potential for substantial progress across various sectors. This paper delves into the critical function of entrepreneurship in supporting women to breach age-old hurdles and engage meaningfully in economic growth. The study exemplifies & observed the impact of education, capital availability and enabling networks on the power of women entrepreneurs. It also emphasises on how stereotypes norms are broken and exhibition of innovation within society. It presents both opportunities and challenges available for women to succeed in the entrepreneurial landscape. The challenges like less capital funding, social &cultural factors, and targeted policy actions. To support women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship, it is necessary to implement planning with supportive ecosystem, promote access to finance addressing societal norms, facilitating networking and collaboration and implementing supportive government policies. Overall, women entrepreneurs have the potential to energized India’s mission to achieve Vikshit Bharat 2047. As per the government udyam registration portal and udyamassit platform (UAP),3,11 crore women lead the businesses and registered till now. The increasing number of successful women leading startups and the growing recognition of their contributions are promising signs of the transformative power of women entrepreneurship in India.
Books
- Ahl, H. (2004). The Scientific Reproduction of Gender Inequality: A Discourse Analysis of Research Texts on Women's Entrepreneurship. CBS Press.
- McAdam, M. (2022). Women’s Entrepreneurship (2nd ed.). Routledge. Includes specialized chapters on policy, gendered entrepreneurship, and family involvement.
- Smythe, J., & Saunders, R. (2020). Female Entrepreneurs: The Secrets of Their Success. Routledge. Focuses on personal strengths, motivations, and societal value.
- Birkner, S., et al. (Eds.). (2018). Women’s Entrepreneurship in Europe. Springer International Publishing.
Journal Articles
- Al Dajani, H., & Marlow, S. (2010). "Impact of women’s home-based enterprise on family dynamics: Evidence from Jordan." International Small Business Journal, 28(5), 470–486.
- McClelland, D. C. (1967). The Achieving Society. Free Press. (Foundational research on the "need for achievement" and personal growth).
- Minniti, M. (2010). "Female Entrepreneurship and Economic Activity." European Journal of Development Research, 22, 294–312.
- Panda, S. (2018). "Constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries: review and ranking." Gender in Management: An International Journal.
- Sharma, R., & Bagga, R. (2020). "Motivators Of Women Entrepreneurship - A Study Of Women Entrepreneurs Of Punjab." GIS Business, 15(1), 324–338.
Institutional Reports
- PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI). (2021). Women Entrepreneurship: Transforming from Domestic Household to Financial Independence.
- United Nations (UNECE). (2003). Women’s Entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe and CIS Countries.
- Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). (2022). Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Economies: Evidence Paper.
Theses and Dissertations
- Johnstone-Louis, M. (2017). Women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship: an examination of theory and practice. Thesis, University of Oxford.
- Trivedi, S. K. (2014). Creating Livelihoods: Indian Women Entrepreneur Networks in the Context of Poverty. Thesis, The George Washington University.
