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Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain

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Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain ISSN: 2349-4468 International Journal of Advances in Management, Economics and Entrepreneurship Available online at: www.ijamee.info RESEARCH ARTICLE Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain Eman Alqubaiti, Noor Hasan, Fatema Ahmed, Layla Faisal Alhalwachi* Bahrain Polytechnic, Bahrain. *Corresponding Author: Layla Faisal Alhalwachi Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify the challenges Bahraini women entrepreneurs face in Bahrain, to improve the understanding of these challenges and promote an environment where both female and male entrepreneurs can thrive. The problem is that there is a knowledge gap due to the scarcity of studies. Previous research has been done about this topic in different contextual settings, but none of them is contemporary and done in Bahrain only. Therefore, this research will attempt to fill the knowledge gap by studying the challenges faced by today’s Bahraini women entrepreneurs in Bahrain only. Hence, the research question is what are the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Bahrain? The researchers chose the topic of women entrepreneurship because it contributes to the development of individuals, societies and the country’s economy. It aids in utilizing the talents and skills of half of the population. This is why it is important that Bahrain identifies the challenges today’s Bahraini women entrepreneurs face in order to be able to eliminate them and allow women to succeed and thrive. It is evident that improvements have been made, but much still need to be done to help women entrepreneurs succeed in their fields. Yet, there is a knowledge gap in research about the topic and therefore this paper suggests a method composed of interviews, surveys and a comprehensive review of existing literature to fill the gap. However, the suggested method does not include asking the participants for recommendations and it would be suitable to hire the same professionals to interview and analyse the interview responses. Keywords: Bahrain, Challenges, Discrimination, Entrepreneurship, Gender-bias, Women, Women entrepreneurs. Introduction Entrepreneurship is recognized globally as Women in the Middle East including being of great benefit to individuals and Bahrain, have always been facing hardships countries as it is a critical driver of growth since they entered labour market [2]. and job creation [1]. In Bahrain, Problems from gender-bias, discrimination entrepreneurship is encouraged by policies and the glass ceiling are things they faced and the establishing of semi-governmental constantly. Nevertheless, Omair stated that bodies such as Tamkeen [2]. the situation is improving and women in the Middle East can no longer be described as Thus, becoming an entrepreneur in Bahrain inferior in work [6]. became easier and more achievable. However, does this apply to both men and They now demand to be presented with the women who want to start their own business? same opportunities that men have, to create Recently the International Labour a source of income and/or to pursue their Organisation (ILO) estimated that women dreams. According to the Supreme Council entrepreneurs make up a quarter to a third for Women in Bahrain, the percentage of of the world’s entrepreneurs [3]. According to women in the labour force has increased to Vinesh, entrepreneurship has been a male- 29.8% and women entrepreneurs have dominated phenomenon [4]. This is even become more prominent [7]. This is why the more noticeable in patriarchal societies like topic is important because, as time changes, Bahrain’s [5]. This is due to the culture that women are seen as more powerful individuals expects women to take care of the house that are able to run successful businesses duties and raise the children while men and defy the odds stacked against them. provide income for the family [5]. Layla Faisal Alhalwachi et. al.| July 2018 | Vol.5| Issue 07|01-05 1 Available online at: www.ijamee.info According to Das, women are willing to turn However, this definition lacks some to entrepreneurship to enjoy greater important elements such as the fact that satisfaction and flexibility and cope with the women entrepreneurs own, operate, manage ‘glass ceiling’ that seems to prevent them and take risks in their business [12]. from reaching top managerial levels in In other words, Chinomona stated that they organisations [8]. Their willingness should be are the female front-runners of a business, awarded with opportunities and elimination who are effectively responsible for its day-to- of challenges so that they can contribute to day activities [1]. Moving on, women improving the economy of Bahrain [2]. entrepreneurship was defined by Arakeri as Hence, these challenges must be identified to the enterprise owned and controlled by a be diminished where possible. Thus, the woman. It has a minimum financial interest research question is “What are the challenges of 51 percent of the capital and gives at least faced by women entrepreneurs in the 51 percent of the employment generated in Kingdom of Bahrain?”. The researchers’ the enterprise to women [13]. hypothesis is that women entrepreneurs in Challenges Facing Women Bahrain face challenges that men entrepreneurs face in addition to others that Entrepreneurs are related to being females in a male- Sarri and Trihopoulou stated that much dominated society. research from all over the world was done Answering this research question will regarding the topic of women provide clarity as to what the contemporary entrepreneurship and it has shown that challenges that women entrepreneurs are many interventions need to be made to make currently facing in Bahrain. Identifying the progress in the development of women challenges will help in eliminating them entrepreneurs [14]. These studies showed which will allow for more growth and several common things. For instance, O’Neil, expansion in the business sector in Bahrain Viljoen, Wasilczlik and Zieba conducted two [1]. Therefore, the study set out to identify different studies and both concluded that the and improve the understanding of the major most important obstacle is raising finance challenges women entrepreneurs face in [15-16]. Bahrain as well as highlighting the effects of Discrimination these challenges. In addition to contributing to the lacking body of knowledge about this Moreover, Mitchell claimed that in addition topic in the Kingdom. to the risks all entrepreneurs face, women face other problems due to being females in a Literature Review male-dominated society [17]. Similarly, Concept of Entrepreneurship Mandipaka stated that most women entrepreneurs are discriminated against Before studying the challenges faced by which creates barriers against their success women entrepreneurs, it is imperative to [18]. Discrimination refers to distinguishing start by defining the concept of unfavourably or the detection of the entrepreneurship. According to Chinomona, difference between one thing and another Maziriri and Moloi, entrepreneurship refers [18]. However, the definition does not include to initiating, creating, and building, a crucial part which is that discrimination is expanding and sustaining a venture. In usually done according to certain addition to gathering the necessary resources characteristics such as gender, religion or to exploit an opportunity in the marketplace race [19]. for long-term wealth and capital gain [10]. From this definition, it can be deduced that Education and Training entrepreneurship is the ability and readiness Furthermore, many studies pointed out the to create and operate a business unit in order lack of education and training as another to make profit. large obstacle. According to Phillips, Moos Women Entrepreneurs and Nieman, running an enterprise is risky for all entrepreneurs, but even more so for More specifically, women entrepreneurs are women entrepreneurs. This is because in defined by Manerkar as women who initiate addition to having to survive in a male- and organize a business enterprise [11]. dominated environment, they also often do Layla Faisal Alhalwachi et. al.| July 2018 | Vol.5| Issue 07|01-05 2 Available online at: www.ijamee.info not have the appropriate education and beliefs and lack of confidence and trust in training in this field [20]. Likewise, Jalbert them as the most prominent challenges [7]. stated that operating a business can be more Interestingly, it can be noticed that even in challenging for women entrepreneurs in both IFC’s research, difficulty to raise capital, formal and informal sectors because they are despite being one of the biggest obstacles to often ill-equipped educationally and they lack other women in the MENA region, was skills [21]. Based on these researchers’ considered less of a female-based challenge in statements, it can be concluded that women Bahrain [23]. Unlike in other countries, such entrepreneurs’ lack of training and education as South Africa, where women entrepreneurs creates challenges in the setting up and deal with the unwillingness of banks to grant operation of businesses. them loans because of gender-bias [1]. Women Entrepreneurship in the Region This is because Bahrain has various Although the challenges faced by women institutions that aid women entrepreneurs. entrepreneurs are international, women in These include Tamkeen, Bahrain the Middle East face other obstacles as well. Development Bank (BDB) and the Supreme According to Marinakou, Middle Eastern Council for Women [5]. Yet, Sinha found that societies
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