The interaction between women's social entrepreneurship in Iran and structural and cultural factors according to Gidden's structural agency theory

Subject Areas : Social Sciences Quarterly

Mona Emami ^{1 *} , Mostafa Karbasioun ²

1 - Science and Research University
2 - Faculty of Agriculture, Shahrekord University

Received: 2023-03-23 Accepted : 2025-09-23 Published : 2025-10-04

Keywords: Women&#039, s agency, entrepreneurship, social entrepreneur, construction theory, structural limitations,

Abstract :

This review article contributes to the extant literature in several ways. The first contribution is that by using Gidden's theory of construction and the findings obtained from previous researches with a bibliographic method, it examines the joint interaction between female social enterprise stakeholders and the structure in developing countries including Iran. The second contribution is to identify constraints faced by women social entrepreneurs in developing countries and it creates a condensed body of knowledge. The structural constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries stem from gender discrimination, work-family conflict, difficulty in raising capital, lack of infrastructure, unstable business, economic and political environments, lack of training and education and personality differences. The interrelationships between multiple constraints result in a hostile environment for women social entrepreneurs in developing countries. Thirdly, it tries to identify mechanisms that Iranian entrepreneurs use to enter the economical arena and tackle social challenges, resolve poverty, inequality, and other social malaises. The contemporary significance of social entrepreneurship lies in the combination of complex structural forces and activities of agents that initiate, demand, impose or facilitate changes. A correct understanding of the potential power of agency in a period of life and the factors that influence women social entrepreneurs throughout the entrepreneurial processes is necessary for actions beyond expectations in the specific field of social entrepreneurship. It outlines interrelationships between multiple constraints resulting in hostile environments for women entrepreneurs. The strategies of "creating strong social capital", "mutual empowerment", "structural responsibility", "institutional support for the activities of women social entrepreneurs", "building a sisterhood network", "human-centered fair trade" and "adaptation" are among the types. They represent the common constructive interaction between the entrepreneur (agent) and the structure. The development of identity and rethinking of female may confirm the applicability of Gidden's structure theory in the field of social entrepreneurship.