Employing a feminist relational lens, the purpose of this paper is to explore the work-life balance experiences of black migrant women entrepreneurs, examining the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
Employing a feminist relational lens, the purpose of this paper is to explore the work-life balance experiences of black migrant women entrepreneurs, examining the relationship between macro, meso and micro levels of business activity. The paper examines the obstacles raised and opportunities enabled by the confrontation and negotiation between the private and public space.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative methods are used and the paper draws on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 29 black women business owners in the legal and black hairdressing sectors in London. The analysis of the paper is informed by a relational approach that recognises the embedded nature of business activity in differing levels of social action.
Findings
The analysis reveals that ability of the women in the study to manage their work-life balance was shaped by power relations and social interactions between and within cultural, structural and agentic dimensions of small business ownership.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature on business and entrepreneurial behaviour of women by embedding work-life balance experiences of black migrant women in context of relations between and within macro, meso and micro levels. It conceptualises the behaviour of the women in the study in terms of confrontations, negotiations and dialogue between notions of motherhood, femininity, family and entrepreneurship at the societal, institutional and individual levels. In so doing the paper expands the literature on minority entrepreneurship and underscores the interconnected nature of these three levels to produce unique experiences for individual migrant women.
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Gözde Inal, Akram Al Ariss and Cynthia Forson
The purpose of this paper is to examine the self‐employment process of Turkish‐Cypriot restaurateurs and lawyers in the UK, in particular the way they mobilize resources as a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the self‐employment process of Turkish‐Cypriot restaurateurs and lawyers in the UK, in particular the way they mobilize resources as a strategic choice for their career transition.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on a qualitative empirical research consisting of semi‐structured in‐depth interviews from two different sectors with 20 restaurateurs and lawyers in London.
Findings
Findings indicate that Turkish‐Cypriots in Britain deliberately draw on social, economic, cultural, and symbolic forms of capital in order to pursue their career projects. The impact of the interconnectedness and availability of one resource on the participants’ ability to acquire other resources is shown to have a key role in developing and transitioning into careers in self‐employment.
Research limitations/implications
The number of participants interviewed (20) is limited for the purposes of making generalizations and the paper has a main focus on micro‐individual experiences of individuals.
Originality/value
The limited literature on self‐employment for ethnic minorities is often conceptualized as an option to avoid employment inequalities. This paper offers an understanding of self‐employment as a career strategy for Turkish‐Cypriots in Britain.
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The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the research presented at the 2016 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Conference in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the research presented at the 2016 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Conference in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Design/methodology/approach
The report is based on six papers, of interest to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion readers, which were selected from the proceedings and presentations made at the conference. The papers vary in terms of research design, methodology and approach. There was a mix of conceptual/review papers and empirical studies, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Findings
The papers presented new directions on equality, diversity and inclusion research. Findings from exploratory papers indicated the need to develop an understanding of the notion of solidarity and the divisive and inclusive elements of the enactment of solidarity. Empirical studies reveal that women and people from black and minority ethnic communities continue to be excluded and marginalized, whereas there is a call for greater consideration of age in the social, economic, political and market arenas.
Originality/value
This report integrates unique insights on “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Human Rights in Times of Austerity”, as these were presented and discussed at the EDI 2016 Conference.
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Until May 2003, there was no coherent national strategic approach to the development of women's enterprise in the UK although for decades researchers and support groups have been…
Abstract
Purpose
Until May 2003, there was no coherent national strategic approach to the development of women's enterprise in the UK although for decades researchers and support groups have been calling for a distinctive approach to supporting women business owners due to their different business ownership profiles such as different motivations for entering business ownership, reduced access to resources, particularly finance and longer incubation periods. Historically, a piecemeal approach has dominated the policy landscape with regard to small business development as well as female entrepreneurship. As part of the effort to provide a more coherent national strategic approach to women's enterprise policy, the government launched the Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise (SFWE) in 2003, an umbrella document from which all initiatives to support female entrepreneurship acquire their momentum. The paper seeks to explore the SFWE.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking an intersectional approach, this paper explores the SFWE seeking to examine its provisions and how these relate to black and minority ethnic (BME) women in the light of the multiplicity of their experiences in terms of gender, ethnicity and class.
Findings
The paper concludes that the SFWE approaches the issue of BME women's entrepreneurship as a sub‐set of female entrepreneurship and therefore assumes that they will benefit from all gender‐based policies. The document treats women as a homogenous group and the acknowledgement of the diversity of female entrepreneurs, particularly BME women's experiences, is not reflected in the action priorities relating to business support provision, access to finance, childcare and caring responsibilities and transition from benefits to self‐employment.
Research limitations/implications
The paper shows that there is a need for further research into the experiences of BME women in business in order to address their peculiar needs brought about by the intersectionality of ethnicity, “race”, gender and class in their lived experiences and to support this with policy provisions that are relevant to their needs. The recurrent problem is whether to concentrate on making mainstream business support provision and initiatives responsive to the needs of BME women or to define issues and develop independent initiatives that cater for these needs.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this paper is its focus on a significant but under researched group of women business owners in the context of an evidence‐based policy approach to entrepreneurship support and highlights the need for a more focused approach to their specific needs if the entrepreneurial potential of all women is to be harnessed.
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The influence of traditional individually oriented Organization Development (OD), with its focus on psychological dispositions, on self-development and growth, is currently…
Abstract
The influence of traditional individually oriented Organization Development (OD), with its focus on psychological dispositions, on self-development and growth, is currently waning. I argue here that individually oriented OD would be well served by a new focus on habitus and social position that expand our understanding of human behavior. Using Bourdieu's concept of social position in the form of “habitus-oriented approach,” as I do here using my consulting experience, allows individually oriented OD to become a scholarly and professional site that understands human behavior in terms of both the social and the personal.
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The purpose of this paper is to review the Gender, Migration and Equality stream of the Industrial Relations in Europe 2007 (UREC) Conference, which took place in Athens, Greece.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the Gender, Migration and Equality stream of the Industrial Relations in Europe 2007 (UREC) Conference, which took place in Athens, Greece.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper summarizes a paper delivered at the first plenary session and also papers presented at the stream.
Findings
The paper finds that all papers within the stream highlighted the fact that discrimination and prejudice still exist throughout Europe and these are endemic and institutionalised. Some progress has been made in some areas and industries but for the situation to really alter, people in power should acknowledge their role in reproducing discrimination.
Originality/value
The research papers selected show that equality discussions and debates took a prominent position in the IREC Conference, which is beneficial in terms of pushing forward an equality agenda to the mainstream.