
Women's Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Mentality
Chapter from the book:
Eryeşil,
K.
&
Aslan,
A.
(eds.)
2025.
Variety and Transformation in Entrepreneurship: Corporate, Social, Cultural, and Technological Perspectives.
Synopsis
Entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers of economic growth, innovation, and social development. In recent years, women’s entrepreneurship has gained increasing attention in both academic literature and policy agendas. Female entrepreneurs contribute significantly to employment generation, poverty reduction, and gender equality. However, traditional gender roles, limited access to finance, lack of mentorship and training opportunities, and difficulties in balancing work and family life remain major barriers that restrict women’s entrepreneurial activities. This study explores the historical development of women’s entrepreneurship, the challenges they face, and the importance of the entrepreneurial mindset. The entrepreneurial mindset—characterized by opportunity recognition, risk-taking, innovation, and self-efficacy—enhances women’s capacity to succeed in business. Female entrepreneurs often adopt a transformational leadership style, collaborative approaches, and resilient attitudes, which add unique dynamism to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Findings indicate that women’s entrepreneurship plays a critical role in both economic growth and social welfare. Today, digitalization, social media, and globalization provide new opportunities for women, yet structural barriers continue to persist. Supporting women’s entrepreneurship not only strengthens individual success but also promotes societal transformation and sustainable development. Therefore, fostering women’s entrepreneurial participation should be considered a strategic investment for building a more inclusive and equitable economy.