Empowerment or Reinforcement of Gender Regime: Rethinking Social Enterprises’ Intentions and Impact through Gender Lens

• Main Author: Tymosiewicz, Natalia Elizabeth
• Other Authors: Genaro Castro Vazquez
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70053
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The purpose of this exploratory study is to expand the field of social enterprise research through gender lens, by examining how gender stereotypes influences social practices and intentions. This study uses a qualitative approach, sampling 12 leaders and volunteers from the social sector, focusing on motivational intents to start a social enterprise, and the impact they seek to create. The entrepreneurs interviewed are found to embark on social ventures for various reasons, with the increased use of androgynous attributes to describe their motives. Evidence presented also suggests selection of beneficiaries were often made in line with personal motivations, and entrepreneurs are moving beyond quantitative means of impact assessment. Further, gendered stereotypes and occupational norms were observed in evaluation of the social enterprise sector. This study will be useful in supporting current and aspiring social entrepreneurs to take steps towards breaking traditional gendered stereotypes and labels in the sector.