Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India

Majibur Rahman Siddique

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India

Majibur Rahman Siddique^*

Published in International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Received: 22 July 2025 Accepted: 4 August 2025 Published: 9 September 2025

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Abstract

In recent years, the global entrepreneurial landscape has seen a significant transformation, particularly in women entrepreneurship. However, the scenario differs in India. Despite making up 48.5% of the population, women account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs. Research indicates this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. In this context, this study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The research adopted a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze secondary data from five specific documents. The data was examined using a combination of document and content analysis, with the aid of NVivo 14 software. The analysis revealed five key themes: the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, persistent gender stereotypes, various internal and external challenges, women's role in socio-economic development, and the urgent need for three-tier strategy. According to the findings, women make up only 14% of entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, women-led enterprises are notably rare, particularly in the formal sector, where they account for less than 5% of all businesses. The findings further indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle the challenges confronted by women entrepreneurs in India.

Published in	International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis (Volume 11, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
Page(s)	57-76
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Women Entrepreneurship, Stereotypes, Patriarchal Society, Discrimination, Socio-economy, Self-efficacy, Document Analysis

1. Introduction

The term ‘entrepreneur’ is derived from the French word ‘entrependre’, meaning ‘to undertake’

[1]

. Entrepreneurs, either men or women, are individuals who assume both financial and non-financial risks to start new ventures and introduce novel offerings that deliver value to customers

[2, 45]

. Entrepreneurship, therefore, is the process of transforming creative ideas into actionable and profitable business models

[3, 46]

. Creativity and innovation form the backbone of entrepreneurship, as creativity enables fresh perspectives and idea generation, while innovation translates those ideas into practical solutions for consumers

[2, 4, 47]

Despite the fact that creativity and innovation are not determined by gender, as both men and women possess the ability to think creatively and innovatively, women often encounter distinct challenges when initiating and managing a business

[5, 47]

. These challenges have drawn increased academic attention to the role of women in entrepreneurship and their contributions to societal change

[5-7]

define women entrepreneurship as an economic activity in which women take initiative to start, manage, and grow a business venture, aiming to create value for society through innovation and creativity.

While the global entrepreneurial landscape has undergone significant transformation in recent years, particularly in women entrepreneurship, the situation in India presents a contrasting picture

[5, 8]

. Even though women make up 48.5% of the total population in India, they account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs

[9, 14]

. According to

[5]

, this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. Women are often perceived as a vulnerable segment of developing society, both physically and emotionally, which has historically limited their access to entrepreneurial opportunities

[10]

. The widespread belief that the business world is inherently male dominated discourages many women from pursuing entrepreneurship from an early age

[7, 11]

. Research has shown that women-led businesses frequently suffer from limited access to financial resources necessary for product marketing and business growth

[12]

. Moreover, due to inadequate education, guidance, and support systems, women are often exploited by intermediaries during the business process

[5, 12]

Despite these barriers, the emergence of women entrepreneurs has become a vital component of national development efforts

[13]

. According to

[14]

, one in three entrepreneurs introducing innovation to local and international markets is a woman. Particularly in India, women own approximately 20% of the 58.5 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)

[9]

. Studies further suggest that women often make more effective business decisions than men, owing to their results-oriented mindset and collaborative working style

[15]

. However, even with legal frameworks promoting gender equality in India, women continue to face discrimination in the business sector

[16]

. Only 19.2% of Indian women participate in the workforce, compared to 70.1% of men, revealing a substantial employment gap of 50.9%

[9]

. The key challenges include restricted access to capital, limited educational opportunities, and deep-rooted societal prejudices—even though women demonstrate entrepreneurial capabilities comparable to their male counterparts

[5, 17, 18]

In this context, addressing the persistent perception of women as weaker members of society, even when they exhibit equal competence and commitment

[5]

, is essential for reducing gender disparities in entrepreneurship. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the challenges hindering women's participation in entrepreneurship and their role in societal transformation in India, with the objective of identifying and prioritizing these issues and recommending effective strategies to overcome them.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship has been defined by numerous scholars in various ways. Entrepreneurship refers to the process of introducing and implementing new ideas or modifying existing ones to foster innovation within businesses, with the potential to generate significant value

[18-20, 51]

. Entrepreneurship involves the process of identifying, pursuing, and capitalizing on market opportunities by starting new ventures, taking on associated risks, and creating innovative offerings that deliver value to customers

[1-3, 6]

[2, 4]

emphasize that innovation and creativity are fundamental traits of an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurial creativity refers to the ability to generate original ideas addressing problems and opportunities, while innovation is the capacity to apply these creative ideas in a business context to deliver value to customers

[2, 7, 12, 48]

2.2. Women Entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurship involves women or groups of women taking on the risks related to starting, organizing, and managing business ventures

[7, 8, 21]

. It is rooted in their participation in both ownership and operational roles within businesses, with entrepreneurial journeys primarily motivated by desires for self-reliance, independence, financial stability, and empowerment

[21-23]

. According to

[10]

, women have historically been viewed as a weaker segment of society, both physically and mentally.

[18]

notes that traditional stereotypes portrayed the business world as male-dominated, limiting women’s opportunities to lead ventures. The industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries further influenced the role and perception of women in entrepreneurship

[20]

The emergence of women entrepreneurship in India gained momentum after independence in 1947

[25]

. In 1987, the All-India Manufacturers Organization (AIMO) was established to inspire, motivate, and support aspiring female entrepreneurs

[8]

. Research conducted in 1991 highlighted the need for specialized training programs to encourage women’s participation in entrepreneurship

[25, 49]

. Indian women have since made significant strides, successfully balancing family responsibilities alongside business demands in a traditionally male-dominated environment

[17, 18, 26]

. Despite this progress, women’s involvement in entrepreneurship remains limited, particularly in the formal sector, which accounts for less than 5% of all businesses

[12, 27]

. However, women entrepreneurs now represent around 14% of business owners across both formal and informal sectors in India

[9, 14]

. The key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India include difficulties in securing funding and maintaining work-life balance

[10, 22, 28]

. Nonetheless, positive developments have been observed due to women’s increasing risk-taking abilities, shifting societal attitudes, greater community support, and progressive government policies aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs

[12, 27, 29]

2.3. Women Entrepreneurship in Economic Development

Economic development is defined as a positive transformation in the economic structure driven by the adoption of advanced and automated technologies that enhance labor productivity, income, employment, and living standards

[30-32]

. While often used interchangeably,

[33]

clarify that economic development is a qualitative concept focused on improving conditions that support sustained growth—such as entrepreneurship—whereas economic growth is a quantitative measure of output influenced by macroeconomic forces.

Women entrepreneurship plays a significant role in India’s economic development, reflecting a steady rise in female entrepreneurial activity alongside their male counterparts

[14, 22]

. Women entrepreneurs are those who actively engage in and adapt to socioeconomic, financial, and supportive environments, serving as catalytic agents of change in the economy

[17, 18]

. Given that women constitute nearly half of India’s population (48.5%), their participation in entrepreneurial activities is critical for national development

[9, 27]

. In today’s globalized context, characterized by the free flow of technology and liberalization, women are increasingly motivated by creativity and a strong desire to effect social change through entrepreneurship

[27, 34]

. This social difference is reflected in efforts to transform longstanding gender stereotypes and establish a new paradigm where women’s contributions to business and society are fully recognized

[12, 13, 15]

Women entrepreneurs act as important catalysts for economic progress of India by fostering job creation, reducing poverty, driving economic growth, and improving living standards and well-being

[29, 35]

. Women-led enterprises also promote innovation, diversity, inclusion, and increased participation across economic sectors. According to the

[14]

, one in every three entrepreneurs contributing to the economic global transformation is a woman. This growth is underpinned by the distinctive skills women bring to entrepreneurship, including social sensitivity and a collaborative approach, which supports employment generation not only for themselves but also for those less suited to traditional entrepreneurial roles

[5, 34, 35]

. Research from the

[16]

further supports this, showing that women-founded businesses generate 10% higher revenue per dollar invested compared to male-founded firms. Globally, an estimated 126 million women are either establishing or managing new enterprises, while 98 million are running existing businesses, with women-owned firms comprising over 25% of all businesses—significantly impacting the Indian economy

[14, 15, 27]

Beyond economic contributions, women entrepreneurs are vital agents of societal development by generating employment opportunities and contributing to poverty alleviation

[5, 27, 53]

. Female-owned businesses, along with small enterprises, employ approximately 77 million people worldwide

[29, 36, 52]

. The GEM report highlights that female entrepreneurs, on average, employ 9.2 people, underscoring their role in job creation, poverty reduction, and boosting national GDP

[14, 16]

. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs drive economic growth by introducing new products and services, fostering innovation, and encouraging participation from diverse groups, which collectively enhance productivity

[37-39]

. They also serve as role models, inspiring future generations of women to challenge societal norms and pursue entrepreneurship

[27, 41]

. Despite these advances, women continue to face significant barriers, including limited access to finance, cultural and political obstacles, and underrepresentation in decision-making roles, which must be addressed to fully harness their potential in economic development

[5, 14, 22]

2.4. Women Entrepreneurship Challenges

Women entrepreneurs in India encounter numerous obstacles throughout their business journey. As noted by

[18, 22]

, key challenges include limited financial access, managerial constraints, social attitudes, gender inequality, low education levels, restricted mobility, and difficulties in maintaining work-life balance. These factors hinder their entrepreneurial progress. Similarly,

[7, 27]

highlight issues such as insufficient access to credit, inadequate market research, low self-confidence, limited risk-taking capacity, lack of training and exposure, and prevailing socio-cultural barriers.

A study [5] highlights that women entrepreneurs often face discrimination, work-family conflict, limited access to finance, lack of entrepreneurial education and training, inadequate infrastructure, and personal barriers like low self-confidence. Additionally,

[41]

observes that women’s entrepreneurial contributions are frequently overlooked or undervalued, restricting their visibility, recognition, and opportunities to build networks or access new markets. Further, as per

[5, 14, 42, 43]

, in many countries, deeply rooted cultural norms, traditional gender roles, and societal expectations constrain women’s mobility, limit their decision-making power, and reduce access to essential resources, thereby hindering their ability to start and grow successful enterprises.

Given the numerous challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, it is vital to address these barriers through targeted social, economic, political, and educational initiatives

[37, 44, 50]

. Women play a significant role in economic development, and closing the gender gap in entrepreneurship could raise global GDP by 2%

[14, 16]

[14]

further suggests that eliminating barriers such as discrimination could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025. This highlights not only the moral imperative but also the economic benefit of fostering gender-inclusive entrepreneurship. Moreover,

[38]

reports that companies with more women in leadership often experience stronger financial performance. Therefore, overcoming these challenges demands collective and sustained efforts.

2.5. Literature Gap

While women entrepreneurship is recognized as a catalyst for economic growth, South Asia continues to exhibit a stark gender disparity in business ownership. Only 18% of women in the region are engaged in entrepreneurship, compared to the global average of 34%

[60]

. In India, just 14% of entrepreneurs are women

[9]

. Although this figure is higher than that of developing countries in the region like Bangladesh, which accounts for 7% of women in entrepreneurship, it lags behind Nepal, a least developed nation in the region, where women constitute 29% of entrepreneurs

[61, 62]

. This gap is particularly concerning for India, the fifth-largest economy in the world.

Existing literature highlights that societal norms that perceive women as less capable than men, even when they display equal competence, remain a primary barrier to their entrepreneurial participation in India. While numerous studies have explored individual challenges, there is a notable lack of focus on the internal challenges, such as personality traits, and external challenges, such as societal attitude, that prevents women from entrepreneurship participation. Further, literature also lacks evaluating the major causes behind each challenge. Furthermore, although women’s role in national development is frequently acknowledged, existing literature offers limited analysis of how women entrepreneurs contribute to broader economic development. In addition, the integration of women’s entrepreneurship with global policy frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, is largely absent. This disconnect undermines the ability of existing research to inform effective policy interventions.

This study, therefore, aims to address these gaps by identifying both internal and external challenges faced by aspiring women entrepreneurs in India while also analyzing the underlying causes of these challenges. This study further aims to provide context specific strategies to overcome the identified challenges and enhance women entrepreneurship in India.

2.6. Conceptual Framework

The study is guided by the conceptual framework in Figure 1, which highlights key variables and their relationships: women entrepreneurs, internal and external challenges, strategies to overcome them, and social and economic development. It begins with identifying challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and the contributing factors. A qualitative assessment of these challenges provides an empirical basis for developing effective strategies, ultimately promoting economic development.

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 1. Conceptual Framework of the Study.

3. Methodology

3.1. Research Philosophy

This study adopted an interpretivist research philosophy to explore the social reality of female entrepreneurship in India, which is seen as subjective and shaped by societal and personal experiences. Interpretivism focuses on cultural beliefs, norms, and human actions to understand social relations

[54, 55]

, emphasizing qualitative over quantitative methods. Since social reality is embedded in context, researchers make sense of it rather than test hypotheses. As

[55]

note, interpretivism is common in secondary data research. The common techniques used in qualitative research encompass observation, interviewing, and document analysis

[56]

. Therefore, this study used document analysis, examining five documents, published between 2018 and 2023, through content analysis using NVivo 14.

3.2. Research Approach

Kitto et al

[56]

assert that qualitative research generally employs an inductive approach. Accordingly, this study adopts an inductive research strategy, as it is based on qualitative analysis of documents. This approach is a bottom-up approach, starting with specific insights from existing literature, then identifying emerging patterns and themes, followed by critical examination and the development of study conclusions

[57]

3.3. Data Collection Method

This research relied on secondary data, examined through document analysis to answer the research questions. Secondary data refers to information previously collected by others

[58]

. The researcher systematically searched open-access databases such as Google Scholar, Emerald, and ResearchGate using keywords like “Challenges faced by Women Entrepreneurs in India,” “Contribution of Female Entrepreneurs,” and “Motivational factors of Women Entrepreneurs.” Secondary data was chosen due to the limited availability of authentic primary data, as many challenges related to women are often unreported. Ultimately, five credible papers published between 2018 and 2023 were selected for analysis, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Documents Selected for the Study.

S. N.

Author (s)

Date

Journals

Topics

Citation

Panda, S.

2018

Gender in Management: An International Journal

Constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries: review and ranking

[5]

Chaudhari, K. V.

2018

International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages

Role of Women Entrepreneurship in Social Development

5 ]

Rosca, E., Agarwal, N. and Brem, A.

2020

Technological Forecasting & Social Change

Women entrepreneurs as agents of change: A comparative analysis of social entrepreneurship processes in emerging markets

[22]

Sahoo, C.

2020

International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology

Women Entrepreneurship in India: An Insight into Problems, Prospects and Development

7 ]

Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring

2022

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor

GEM 2021/22 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report from Crisis to Opportunity

[14]

The rationale for using document analysis with only five peer-reviewed documents lies in the aim of the study to gain in-depth, qualitative insights rather than broad statistical data, offering a cost- and time-effective approach. The selected documents, dated between 2018 and 2022 and listed in Table 1, provide a contextual understanding of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and their role in economic development in India. The first and fourth documents focus on barriers in developing nations, including India, aligning with the study’s primary aim. The second and third documents explore women’s role in economic development, addressing the secondary aim. The fifth document covers multiple dimensions of women’s entrepreneurship across various countries’ contexts, contributing to both aims of the study. However, the limited number of documents may restrict the generalizability of the study, as findings may not fully represent the diverse regional population. In this context, the study aims to offer thematic insights into the subject matter by analyzing the underlying patterns and trends while also offering a foundation for more comprehensive, data-driven studies in the future.

3.4. Data Analysis

The researcher employed document analysis to examine secondary data using the qualitative software NVivo 14. Document analysis can be done using content analysis, thematic analysis, or narrative analysis

[59]

; however, this study focused exclusively on content analysis. In qualitative research, content analysis involves categorizing information into groups that represent beliefs, ideas, or attitudes related to the research questions

[59]

The findings were grouped into five categories using NVivo 14: women entrepreneurs in India, challenges faced, empowerment strategies, societal development, and economic development. The first covers women’s participation based on current data, the second details their challenges, the third highlights strategies to overcome them, and the last two focus on their contributions to societal and economic growth in India.

3.5. Theme Identification

The theme identification process involved three steps. First, the researcher used NVivo 14 to open code the documents, uncovering hidden patterns related to women entrepreneurs in India. Second, instead of merging codes prematurely, the initial codes were refined into focused second-order codes by exporting them to spreadsheets. Third, these second-order codes were categorized to identify overarching themes. This three-step approach revealed several key themes that form the foundation for the study’s following chapters. The key themes of the study include:

1) The growing stage of women entrepreneurs in India

2) The pervasive historical stereotypes about women in India

3) The multiple forms of internal and external challenges faced by women entrepreneurs

4) Women entrepreneurs as catalysts for social and economic development

5) The urgent need for three-tier collaborative strategy to eradicate such challenges

4. Results

4.1. Present Status of Women Entrepreneurs

4.1.1. Statistical Findings in India

As per the findings,

[14]

notes that women’s participation in the entrepreneurship is only 14%, despite they constitute 48.5% of the total population.

[27]

highlights that women-led enterprises are extremely scarce, especially in the formal sector, where they constitute less than 5% of all businesses. According to the

[14]

, women are also less engaged in startup activity than men, with only 10.4% of women compared to 13.6% of men involved in early-stage ventures. This indicates that just two out of every five new entrepreneurs in India are women. The report further reveals that the rate at which women exit businesses (34.6%) surpasses that of men (32.6%) within the same year. During the 2020 pandemic, startup rates for women in developing countries like India saw a sharp decline of 50%, dropping from 8.5% to 4.1%

[22]

. Similarky, a large portion of women engage in wholesale and retail trade, being 15% more likely than men to work in this sector

[14]

However, significant gender disparities persist, with women often facing discrimination when launching ventures

[5]

. The gender disparity in India remains widespread, often leading women to become victims of bias when pursuing promotions or engaging in political activities

[22, 27]

. This is known as the "glass ceiling effect," where women face invisible barriers to advancement despite their competence

[5]

. To combat these inequalities, the government has implemented supportive legislation to promote women’s equal participation in politics, as well as business

[5, 22, 25]

. For instance, the Women’s Reservation Bill mandates 33% representation of women in the Parliament, while the Companies Act 2013 also requires 33% female representation on corporate boards

[14]

. Despite this, a key concern is that government-sponsored development programs tend to benefit primarily urban middle-class women, leaving many others underserved

[22, 27]

. Moreover, most Indian women pursue entrepreneurial activities primarily to meet family needs rather than to expand or establish sustainable businesses

[14, 27]

. This limited entrepreneurial vision is often attributed to a lack of education, self-confidence, business skills, and access to social networks

[5, 22, 27]

4.1.2. Growing Women Entrepreneurship

This paragraph highlights the first theme, ‘the growing stage of women entrepreneurs in India’. Since independence in 1947, women have been a key policy focus

[27]

. The Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980/81) promoted self-employment for women, offering them priority and incentives such as business loans at 50% lower interest rates than men

[22]

. Moreover, in today’s urbanized and globalized society, traditional pessimistic views toward women are gradually shifting

[14]

. Women in India are increasingly engaging in entrepreneurial activities, despite ongoing male dominance

[22]

. However, the growth rate of women entrepreneurs in the country remains relatively slow

[27]

4.1.3. Societal Stereotypes

This paragraph presents findings based on the second theme, ‘the pervasive historical stereotypes about women in India’. Despite women constituting 48.5% of the population, they remain largely excluded from national development narratives

[25]

. In India, women have historically been perceived as a marginalized demographic, often considered physically and psychologically weaker

[5]

. In many rural households, a cultural bias known as "son preference" leads to greater value being placed on male children over daughters

[5, 25, 27]

. This preference is rooted in the belief that sons provide financial support to the family, whereas daughters are expected to fulfill traditional roles such as caregiving and housekeeping by marrying early

[14, 27]

. As a result, women are frequently denied access to education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities

[14, 22]

. This deep-rooted bias also contributes to harmful practices such as sex-selective abortions and female infanticide

[14]

. Furthermore, there exists a widespread stereotype that the corporate and entrepreneurial sectors in India are male-dominated, leaving limited space for women to participate

[5, 14, 22, 25, 27]

4.2. Women Entrepreneurship Challenges

This section presents the finding based on third theme: ‘the multiple internal and external challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Despite a rise in the number of women entrepreneurs in India, they continue to face significant obstacles. Internal challenges stem from personal limitations, while external challenges arise from cultural norms, societal expectations, and policy-related barriers. Table 2 highlights various internal and external challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India.

Table 2. Challenges faced by Women Entrepreneurs in India.

Internal Challenges

External Challenges

1) A lack of education and lack of entrepreneurial skills

2) Health issues

3) Personality-related constraints

4) Self-conceived barriers

5) Lack of interaction with successful entrepreneurs

1) Gender discrimination

2) Low financial access

3) Lack of training, infrastructure, and awareness

4) Family or work-life balance

5) Stiff competition and sexual exploitation

6) Labor market challenges

4.3. Socio-economic Development

This section highlights the fourth key theme: ‘Women entrepreneurs are the catalyst to social and economic development’. As noted by

[14]

, women entrepreneurship is fundamental to national progress, both developed and developing countries. Women entrepreneurs are widely recognized as catalysts for both social and economic development. They contribute to social development by addressing social issues, fostering leadership, and enhancing women's participation in various sectors

[5, 22, 27]

. Their startups generate employment, thereby reducing poverty levels indirectly. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs challenge traditional gender norms, promoting self-reliance among women

[14, 22]

. Besides, they advance economic development by enabling capital formation through the mobilization of idle savings, enhancing productivity via efficient resource utilization, fostering innovation, encouraging balanced regional development, and boosting exports, all of which are essential for achieving long-term economic growth

[5, 22, 25]

. Women entrepreneurs play a vital role in mobilizing available means of resources to create value, contributing to national economic growth and elevating their social status

[25]

. Their increasing involvement, accounting for over 14% of Indian businesses

[14]

, positively influences household consumption, thereby increasing the national GDP

[22]

4.4. Strategies to Address Entrepreneurship Challenges

This section presents the fifth and final theme: ‘The urgent need for three-tier collaborative strategy to eradicate such challenges’. The findings reveal that women encounter challenges in entrepreneurship across three levels: personal, socio-cultural, and political

[14, 22, 27]

. First, personality-related barriers such as low self-confidence and risk aversion must be addressed by women themselves

[5]

. Second, societal-level issues require collective efforts to transform traditional attitudes, eliminate structural barriers, ensure access to education, promote gender equality, and encourage family support

[22, 25]

. Third, political and institutional constraints should be tackled through inclusive policy reforms, targeted financial and educational initiatives, infrastructure enhancement, and comprehensive programs aimed at women's empowerment

[22, 25, 27]

5. Discussion

5.1. Growing Women Entrepreneurship

According to

[14]

, 10.4% of women are engaged in early-stage startup activities, meaning that two out of every five new entrepreneurs in India are women. This reflects a global pattern, where nearly one-third of business owners are women

[31]

. This rise is mainly driven by improved education, increased awareness, and supportive government initiatives

[18]

. At present, both government and non-governmental bodies in India are actively promoting women’s entrepreneurship across multiple sectors through awareness drives, incentive schemes, self-employment programs, and industrial projects. For example, women entrepreneurs can access loans at interest rates 50% lower than those for men

[40]

. Additionally, under the Prime Minister Rojgar Yojana (PMRY), women who have completed at least the eighth grade can obtain loans of up to INR 500, 000 at a 1% interest rate, with a repayment period ranging from three to seven years

[60]

As an emerging nation with a large population earning lower incomes, India faces numerous social and infrastructural challenges but holds significant potential for the growth of women entrepreneurship

[5]

. Currently, India is transitioning from an agriculture-based economy to a more diversified one, integrating digital technology and knowledge-driven sectors

[22, 31, 37]

. The internet has introduced online platforms with extensive domestic and global customer bases, enabling women to identify and seize business opportunities more easily. However, the digital economy has primarily benefited middle and upper-class women in urban areas, overlooking the fact that over 60% of women in India remain illiterate

[3, 7, 12]

Moreover, urbanization and globalization have exposed women in India to diverse cultures, innovative ideas, quality education, better health services, increased advocacy for their rights, and opportunities essential for entrepreneurial development

[14, 21]

. Socio-cultural attitudes regarding traditional gender roles in urban areas are gradually shifting, allowing women to participate more actively in entrepreneurship despite ongoing male dominance and historical biases

[5, 8]

. However, the growth of women entrepreneurs remains sluggish, with only 14% of women engaged in entrepreneurship, primarily due to the persistence of various cultural, technical, and political challenges within Indian society

[14, 18]

5.2. Societal Stereotypes

The persistence of traditional stereotypes about women in India can be understood through the lens of ‘Classic Gender Role Theory’. According to this theory, societal expectations assign roles to individuals based on their biological sex, whereby men and women are expected to exhibit distinct behaviors and characteristics

[63]

. These roles are learned through early socialization and are reinforced over time by social institutions, shaping perceptions of appropriate gender behavior. The ‘Social Role Theory’ further supports this by positing that gender roles are primarily derived from the distribution of men and women into different social roles, particularly within the domains of labor and family

[63]

. As women are traditionally concentrated in caregiving and domestic roles, they are perceived as more communal, whereas men in leadership or economic roles are viewed as agentic

[5-7]

. These perceptions become internalized and reinforced through societal institutions, influencing not only self-concept but also societal expectations.

According to

[32]

, gender norms are reinforced early in life through social agents such as family, peers, religious institutions, and educational systems, which promote adherence to traditional gender roles. Individuals who conform are socially accepted, while those who deviate often face criticism or exclusion, discouraging resistance to these norms

[5, 15]

. Therefore, as per classical role assumptions, women are primarily positioned within household and childcare roles, which also reinforces workplace stereotypes. Similarly, based on social role assumptions, these ingrained norms shape the types of ventures seen as appropriate for women in entrepreneurship, thereby reinforcing gender inequalities in economic participation.

Additionally, in the male-dominated society of India, the corporate world is largely viewed as a domain for men, leaving little space for women entrepreneurs to establish and run businesses

[5, 23, 26]

. This perception stems from widespread egalitarian views that regard women as physically and psychologically vulnerable

[5]

. From a rural perspective of India, women are expected to fulfill traditional ‘womanly’ duties, reinforcing the belief that they are unsuitable for trade or entrepreneurship

[14, 17, 25]

. For instance, women are often expected to prioritize family and household responsibilities over their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The gender-biased views, especially in rural Indian society, do not end here. In many rural communities, there is a strong cultural preference for sons over daughters, influenced by longstanding religious and traditional beliefs

[22]

. As a predominantly Hindu society, where more than 80% population are Hindus, India places significant value on rituals associated with death and the afterlife, wherein sons are traditionally responsible for performing the final rites of their parents, believed to ensure the soul's liberation

[17, 20, 21, 23]

. This belief system underpins the widespread practice of "son preference," which systematically privileges male children over females. The ‘Gendered Institution Framework’ offers a critical perspective for understanding how such norms are embedded within and perpetuated by institutional structures, such as the family, religion, and education

[64]

. These institutions are not neutral but are organized around gendered assumptions that sustain male dominance and female subordination

[34, 38]

. Consequently, women in rural India are often assigned lower social status and are expected to conform to domestic roles, which restricts their access to education, employment, and public life, essential things to become an entrepreneur

[18, 25]

Moreover, women in India are often seen as risk-averse, with societal expectations emphasizing caution and conservatism rather than embracing the uncertainties involved in starting and running businesses

[5, 14, 35]

. As a result, many Indian families are reluctant to invest in women’s education or business ventures, restricting their access to quality education and corporate training, which are crucial for developing entrepreneurial skills

[27]

. Moreover, women’s mobility is limited due to conservative social norms encouraging them to stay at home, patriarchal attitudes asserting male control, and safety concerns such as harassment fears

[27, 37, 39]

. Beyond these cultural stereotypes, women entrepreneurs face various other challenges discussed in the next section.

5.3. Women Entrepreneurship Challenges

5.3.1. Internal Challenges

Internal challenges refer to personality-related constraints that women inherently face. These challenges stem from factors within the individual rather than from external environmental influences and impact various aspects of their entrepreneurial journey. The internal challenges as identified are:

Lack of Education and Entrepreneurial Skills

The fact that more than half of women in India remain illiterate significantly contributes to the limited development of female entrepreneurship

[14, 27]

. Women are more likely than men to be illiterate, largely because early marriage restricts their opportunities for higher education due to family obligations

[5]

. Gender-biased attitudes such as "son preference" and cultural norms in rural Indian society often devalue girls’ education. Additionally, women in rural areas are socialized to prioritize domestic roles over entrepreneurial ambitions. This shaping of behavior by societal and cultural expectations aligns with the 'Pygmalion Effect,' a psychological phenomenon where Indian women’s actions are influenced by prevailing beliefs

[65]

. Such influences limit their access to education and entrepreneurial skills. Since successful entrepreneurship demands a broad skill set, including business initiation and management, market understanding, technological awareness, and consumer engagement, quality education is essential. Therefore, lack of education directly hampers the acquisition of these critical entrepreneurial skills.

Health Issues and Personality related Constraints

According to

[14, 27]

, female entrepreneurs often face various health issues like tension, backache, eyestrain, fatigue, and headaches, primarily caused by the conflict between work and personal life. The constant juggling of professional and family responsibilities leads to exhaustion, lack of sleep, and insufficient relaxation

[10, 13, 28]

. Additionally, personality-related challenges such as low self-confidence and risk aversion hinder many women from initiating and managing businesses in India

[31, 34]

. Self-confidence directly influences risk-taking ability, which is essential for successful entrepreneurship

[34]

. Fear of failure significantly affects women’s willingness to take risks because their achievements are scrutinized more intensely due to societal expectations, making any failure potentially more damaging to their reputation.

[33, 41, 47]

explain that women entrepreneurs face additional psychological barriers like risk aversion and fear of failure, stemming from social criticism, financial risks, and limited access to resources compared to men. These pressures not only create emotional obstacles but also reduce their confidence to take necessary entrepreneurial risks, thus restricting their business growth and success.

Self-Conceived Barriers

Women also face self-imposed barriers, often doubting their own abilities and suffering from low self-esteem due to socially defined egalitarian gender roles

[25]

. These barriers stem from longstanding societal expectations in India that have historically marginalized women in entrepreneurship, as noted earlier. Consequently, many female entrepreneurs internalize these traditional gender norms, believing entrepreneurship is beyond their reach, which leads to self-doubt and indecision

[14, 27]

. This experience is known as ‘Imposter Syndrome’, where women feel their successes are accidental and undeserved

[5]

. Such internal insecurities reduce women’s risk-taking behavior, weaken decision-making skills, and limit their ability to identify and seize business opportunities

[41, 43]

, thereby hindering their entrepreneurial potential. These challenges are further exacerbated by a lack of visible role models and mentors, which reinforces the belief that success in entrepreneurship is unattainable for women

[46]

Lack of Motivation

The lower motivation levels among Indian female entrepreneurs stem largely from limited education

[5, 47, 49]

. Women lacking motivation often struggle with risk-taking, leading ventures, recognizing market opportunities, and maintaining the determination needed for entrepreneurial success

[22, 27]

. Since education is crucial for developing entrepreneurial skills, women with less education tend to have lower self-efficacy and self-confidence

[22]

. According to ‘Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation’, education serves as a key ‘motivator’ by providing essential skills and enhancing both the self-confidence and self-efficacy necessary for women to effectively engage in entrepreneurial activities. Motivators are intrinsic elements that lead to higher job satisfaction

[66]

. Education activates key motivators such as achievement, personal growth, and recognition by equipping women with critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills

[46, 52, 66]

. This, in turn, fosters a sense of competence that encourage women to participate in entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, the skills and abilities of women entrepreneurs to effectively manage finances, adapt to market changes, and leverage technological advancements are often limited by a lack of education. This educational gap also perpetuates gender inequalities in entrepreneurship by restricting women’s credibility and their access to valuable networks, mentors, and funding opportunities

[7, 53]

. Beyond education, other factors that demotivate women from pursuing entrepreneurial ventures in India include a predominantly male-dominated culture, rigid gender roles, and limited access to finance, raw materials, training, and support

[5, 14, 35]

Lack of Outside Interactions

Women’s entrepreneurial prospects are often hindered by limited mobility, insufficient familial support, and lower levels of education, all of which restrict their ability to build social networks with established entrepreneurs

[12, 22, 27]

. This lack of interaction denies them access to valuable mentorship, encouragement, and peer learning, subsequently diminishing their self-motivation to pursue business ventures. The ‘ERG Theory of Motivation’ outlines three core motivational needs: Existence, Relatedness, and Growth

[11]

. While many women entrepreneurs satisfy the existence need by acquiring the basic resources required for entrepreneurship, they often struggle at the relatedness stage

[5]

. This stage involves forming meaningful social and professional relationships that foster motivation and support

[5, 27]

. Due to socio-cultural constraints and inadequate education, many women are unable to establish these connections, which impedes progression to the growth stage

[5, 11, 27]

. Consequently, this results in reduced motivation, increased self-doubt, and internal insecurities, limiting their entrepreneurial potential.

5.3.2. External Challenges

External challenges are factors originating from outside influences and beyond the control of the individual facing them. For women entrepreneurs in India, these challenges mainly stem from sociocultural, economic, and governmental sources. The identified external challenges include:

Gender Discrimination

In India, entrepreneurship is largely perceived as a male-dominated field, a notion deeply entrenched in patriarchal values

[24]

. This gendered perception significantly contributes to employment and income disparities between men and women

[5, 7]

. Cultural norms often diminish the social value of women as independent agents, creating credibility challenges and exposing them to both explicit and implicit discrimination

[22, 46]

. The stark employment gap, only 19.2% of women participate in the workforce compared to 70.1% of men, further underscores systemic inequality

[9]

. This 50.9% disparity reflects not just economic imbalance but also entrenched societal attitudes that limit women's roles to domestic spheres

[9, 18, 22]

. Additionally, traditional beliefs, which portray women as primarily responsible for household duties, discourage their participation in entrepreneurship and restrict access to opportunities, resources, and networks essential for business success

[25, 27]

. As a result, female entrepreneurs often face structural barriers, reinforcing the cycle of gender inequality in the entrepreneurial landscape of India.

Low Financial Access

Women entrepreneurs in India face challenges related to finance. The primary factors contributing to such financial constraints include insufficient collateral

[14, 23, 27]

. A key issue is that Indian women often do not possess assets in their names, making it difficult to provide the necessary collateral for securing loans

[5]

. Furthermore, widespread gender-biased perceptions within financial institutions often depict women as less creditworthy, causing banks to deny loan applications despite the submission of complete documentation

[5, 7, 21]

. Moreover, opportunistic lenders exploit this vulnerability by imposing disproportionately high interest rates on female borrowers

[16, 22]

. As a result, many women entrepreneurs are compelled to rely on personal savings or informal loans from family and friends. Therefore, the lack of access to formal financial networks further limits their ability to build credit histories or secure institutional funding. As a result, the representation of females in entrepreneurship declines.

Lack of Training, Awareness and Infrastructure

Female entrepreneurs in India often experience poor performance due to insufficient entrepreneurial training, limited awareness, and a lack of infrastructural support. Among the major challenges they face are restricted access to technology for production and marketing, inadequate availability of raw materials or essential resources, and limited opportunities for networking

[27, 35, 53]

. The classical gender defined roles further discourage women from seeking external support, as they lack mobility, forcing them to navigate between socially defined expectations and their entrepreneurial pursuits

[18, 34]

. Besides, the absence of proper training and limited awareness regarding entrepreneurship hinders their understanding of business initiation, market operations, technological integration, and customer engagement. As noted by

[5]

, the lack of access to information, technology, and opportunities results in reduced self-efficacy among women entrepreneurs, making it difficult for them to fully utilize their entrepreneurial potential. This limited access is largely attributed to societal rigidity, particularly patriarchal norms, as well as financial constraints, poor networking, and educational disadvantages, all of which significantly restrict women's entry or success in the entrepreneurial world.

Work-life Balance

Female entrepreneurs in India face significant challenges in balancing their personal and professional lives

[22, 27]

. It becomes challenging to manage a business while simultaneously fulfilling family responsibilities, as societal expectations continue to perceive women primarily as caregivers. This is due to women who pursue entrepreneurial careers often face societal criticism for deviating from traditional gender roles, making their journey more difficult

[5, 25]

. They also experience resistance and minimal support from family members, which creates a stressful environment both at home and in business. Work-life balance struggles contribute to feelings of guilt, particularly concerning childcare responsibilities, which can lead to demotivation and strain

[28, 53]

. Even in today’s modern era, women are predominantly expected to provide care for children and the elderly, making it especially hard to juggle these roles with running a business. Moreover, persistent gender biases in the workplace compel women to work harder to prove themselves, especially in male-dominated fields or when seeking funding, further increasing their stress and hampering a balanced entrepreneurial life

[35]

Competitive Business World and Sexual Exploitation

In India, women entrepreneurs encounter stiff competition in a predominantly male-dominated economy, where most business owners are men

[5]

. One of the key reasons for this heightened competition is the historical underrepresentation of women in entrepreneurship, resulting in a smaller proportion of female-led businesses compared to male-owned enterprises

[18, 20]

. This imbalance is further aggravated by the societal structure in India, which restricts women’s access to essential business resources and financial capital

[27]

. As a result, their ability to grow their ventures, invest in marketing, or expand operational capacity is significantly hindered. The limitation in securing financial resources further means that women entrepreneurs struggle to afford competitive marketing strategies, reducing their visibility and competitiveness in the market. Furthermore, limited mobility, driven by societal expectation that encourage women to remain at home for security reasons, and inadequate education often compel women to depend on intermediaries for product distribution, hindering their direct access to markets and the development of independent business identities, compared to men. Compounding these challenges is the lack of awareness among women entrepreneurs regarding dynamic market trends, digital tools, and online promotional channels

[18, 41]

. Many women are unable to utilize the potential of media and internet platforms due to limited exposure or training, which further weakens their market presence. Moreover, the competitive entrepreneurial landscape often exposes women to unethical practices. As highlighted by

[5]

, some successful male entrepreneurs or individuals in influential positions exploit their power by demanding sexual favors in return for granting access to finance, resources, or market linkages. This form of harassment, termed 'Quid-Pro-Quo' in Human Resource Management, reflects a serious barrier that undermines women's safety, dignity, and their participation.

Labor Market Challenges

Women entrepreneurs face several labor market challenges in India that hinder their growth. Cumbersome regulations and complex business registration processes often discourage formalization

[37]

, especially given the limited time of women due to family responsibilities. Additionally, bureaucracy combined with favoritism and bribery creates barriers, as women typically have less access to influential networks needed to navigate these issues. Another primary obstacle is the lack of access to international markets and financial support, as both global financial institutions and domestic authorities often question women's commitment, competence, and managerial abilities until they have proven their success

[27, 41, 46]

. This skepticism restricts their ability to secure the credit necessary for scaling business operations. Furthermore, despite the existence of anti-discrimination labor laws, rural societal norms continue to restrict women’s access to education, skill development, and vocational training, primarily due to weak policy enforcement

[17]

. These limitations reduce the capacity of women entrepreneurs to build strong human capital. Additionally, as noted by

[18]

, women entrepreneurs face difficulty in attracting and retaining skilled employees in a volatile market. This is due to limited initial capital, which often prevents them from offering competitive compensation, directly impacting productivity, innovation, and long-term business growth.

5.4. Role of Women Entrepreneurship in Socio-Economic Development

The active involvement of women entrepreneurs is essential for achieving socio-economic development within a country. They are often regarded as catalysts for such development due to their influence on both social and economic aspects

[22]

. The ‘Feminist Economics Theory’ emphasizes the importance of recognizing women's unpaid and paid contributions in the economy, challenging traditional economic models that have historically marginalized roles of women. In this context, women entrepreneurs in India play a vital role in societal transformation by either challenging or reducing entrenched social practices such as early marriages, the dowry system, gender discrimination, and the lack of education for girls

[5]

. The emergence of women entrepreneurship in urban India has led to an improvement in women's social standing, as they now engage with diverse business communities, and operate businesses despite traditional religious constraints. However, women in rural regions of India continue to grapple with cultural and gender-based limitations

[18, 22]

. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs contribute to economic development by generating employment through their ventures which further improves living standards, especially among local disadvantaged groups. In rural areas where job opportunities are scarce, women-owned businesses play a vital role in poverty alleviation by creating jobs for themselves as well as others

[20, 28]

Furthermore, the advancement of women entrepreneurs in India has positively influenced both society at large and household well-being. These entrepreneurs adopt inclusive strategies such as generating employment possibilities, enhancing productivity and skill levels, and increasing the participation of marginalized groups as suppliers, producers, and potential consumers. Women entrepreneurs, serving as a role model, further empower women to earn their own income and achieve financial independence, thereby challenging traditional norms that tied their economic reliance to their families or husbands

[7, 22, 35]

. Consequently, women's social standing and self-esteem have significantly improved across the country, especially in urban areas. Moreover, many successful women entrepreneurs exhibit strong leadership capabilities and act as inspirational figures for other women aspiring to enter the entrepreneurial sphere, thereby contributing to the broader goals of national economic and social progress

[60]

Additionally, these entrepreneurs significantly contribute to the economic development of India by facilitating capital formation through the mobilization of idle savings, funds held by individuals or families that remain unutilized or uninvested

[22, 27]

. By initiating business ventures and creating viable investment opportunities, these entrepreneurs attract such dormant capital in exchange for potential returns, thus channeling it into productive economic activities

[36]

. The establishment of new enterprises by women initiates a ‘domino effect’ that significantly contributes to national development

[15]

. As women entrepreneurs create businesses, they generate employment opportunities, which in turn leads to increased household incomes. This income growth enhances consumer purchasing power, stimulating demand for goods and services, which further drives business expansion and job creation. Concurrently, higher employment levels result in greater tax revenues for the government, enabling increased investment in public services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These investments support human capital development through skill-building and training, reduce poverty, and help mitigate brain drain, ultimately fostering sustained economic growth in a reinforcing cycle. Additionally, women entrepreneurs in India often reinvest their profits into the community, which helps strengthen social welfare, improve infrastructure, and advance the overall development of the nation

[34]

In this context, women entrepreneurs play a key role in ensuring balanced regional development by promoting economic diversification across various parts of India. By establishing businesses in rural or economically stagnant areas, they generate employment, thereby stimulating local economies

[8]

. Their ventures often focus on creating distinctive products or services that have the potential to reach global markets. As noted by

[27]

, women are often more adept than men at applying inclusive business strategies, thanks to qualities such as empathy, compassion, and emotional sensitivity. The ‘Social Role Theory’ supports this by suggesting that gendered social expectations shape women to develop communal traits, making them more inclined toward collaborative, inclusive, and socially responsible business practices. These feminine traits, combined with strong leadership and organizational abilities, enable women entrepreneurs to utilize available resources efficiently. Moreover, they tend to prioritize environmental sustainability, ensuring that resource use benefits both their businesses and the planet

[19]

. This approach fosters the growth of socially responsible, eco-conscious enterprises that drive both economic progress and sustainable development.

5.5. Recommended Strategies

This study identifies three approaches to effectively address and overcome the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs: personal, societal/familial, and governmental. The personal approach focuses on tackling internal challenges. Women entrepreneurs can overcome personality-related barriers by pursuing education, participating in business fairs and awareness programs, and enhancing their entrepreneurial skills

[22, 27]

. It also becomes crucial for them to build social connections with successful entrepreneurs through effective communication, joining entrepreneurial networks like 'The Shark Tank India,' and attending networking events. Additionally, women should engage in self-reflection to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations for entrepreneurship

[5]

. Furthermore, maintaining strong connections with their families and communities further enables them to serve as role models for future generations.

The societal approach is a comprehensive concept aimed at enhancing the status of women entrepreneurship by addressing societal influences such as cultural norms, traditions, beliefs, and attitudes. The Indian society, especially from rural communities, must collectively act to replace outdated assumptions that exclude women from the business sector with progressive perspectives that acknowledge their potential to contribute meaningfully to economic and social development. Transforming social behaviors and attitudes requires the eradication of gender discrimination and structural barriers, alongside the promotion of equality and access to education for women in India

[27, 41]

. As a key component of society, the family plays a crucial role in encouraging women entrepreneurs by offering emotional and moral support

[5]

. Moreover, family backing reinforces awareness of the valuable role that female entrepreneurs can play in society and their broader contribution to the Indian economy

[27]

The governmental approach involves strategies implemented by India’s political institutions to tackle challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. This includes enacting policies and actions specifically designed to support and protect women in business. To create a more equitable business environment, the government must enforce strong anti-discrimination policies that address gender-based biases across employment, education, and access to finance and resources

[27]

. A crucial recommendation is for the government to integrate women's entrepreneurship initiatives into global policy frameworks such as the United Nations SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. This is because aligning national policies with SDG 5 will ensure coherence in promoting equal opportunities, dismantling systemic barriers, and mainstreaming gender considerations across economic development plans. Furthermore, the government should introduce inclusive schemes specifically designed for rural and underprivileged women, providing them with financial assistance, access to quality training, modern technology, and entrepreneurial infrastructure. Moreover, national and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs/NGOs) across South Asia must also play a more proactive role. They should collaborate with governments to raise awareness, build grassroots movements, and offer capacity-building programs tailored to local needs, with strong focus on rural areas of India

[22, 27]

. NGOs can act as bridges between policymakers and women entrepreneurs by facilitating access to crucial information, financial support, mentorship, and marketing networks. INGOs further can amplify the visibility of women entrepreneurs and influence positive policy reforms by forming alliances with international bodies and media. As a result, this cooperative approach will help establish an enabling ecosystem for women’s entrepreneurship that supports both national development and global gender equality goals.

6. Conclusions

This study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The findings indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal or familial, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle and overcome these challenges in India.

This study is relevant as it highlights the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India, enriching existing literature and offering practical insights. By focusing on these difficulties, it enables civil society, businesses, and government to identify root causes and take targeted actions to promote social and economic progress. The study underscores the importance of modern attitudes, equal opportunities, and supportive environments in fostering women entrepreneurship. It also guides businesses in creating inclusive policies and ethical practices, while providing policymakers with a clear roadmap to develop a positive ecosystem that empowers and supports women entrepreneurs across India. Furthermore, the study encourages the nation to adopt a policy framework aligned with SDG 5, aimed at advancing women’s entrepreneurship in India.

This study presents several limitations that should be acknowledged. The first limitation is that relying on only five documents constrains the scope for broader generalization, as the limited dataset may not fully represent the diverse experiences of women entrepreneurs. To address this, future research is encouraged to conduct meta-analyses incorporating a wider range of documents from across South Asia. The use of secondary data also restricts the ability to establish clear causal relationships due to the possibility of inherent biases within the original sources. Therefore, employing a mixed-methods approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative data could offer more robust statistical evidence into the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India. Additionally, the study's exclusive focus on India limits its applicability to other regions with differing socio-economic and cultural contexts; thus, comparative cross-country studies are recommended to identify broader global patterns. Finally, given rapidly changing social and economic landscape of India, future research should explore evolving factors, such as family dynamics and technological advancement, using diverse methodologies to ensure temporal relevance.

Abbreviations

AIMO	All-India Manufactures Organization
GEM	Global Entrepreneurship Monitor

Acknowledgments

The study acknowledges the unwavering support and encouragement of the author’s parents and friends throughout the research process. Their guidance and motivation have been invaluable. The study also expresses gratitude to the authors and researchers whose work on women entrepreneurship in India has significantly contributed to the insights and findings presented.

Author Contributions

Majibur Rahman Siddique is the sole author. The author read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This work is not supported by any external funding.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Appendix

Appendix I: Evidence of Analysis

This study has successfully achieved its aim by following a series of eight structured steps.

1) This study utilized a qualitative analysis approach and selected five documents centred on women entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India (as indicated in Table 1) to gather secondary data.

2) Subsequently, the selected documents were uploaded to NVivo version 14.

3) Next, the researcher conducted open initial coding of the documents using the 'Coding' feature in NVivo 14. This process was designed to extract relevant data and reveal underlying patterns related to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India.

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Figure A1. Open Coding.

4) The initial codes were then refined into more specific second-order codes to enhance clarity and better capture the nuanced challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

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Figure A2. Second-Order Coding.

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Figure A3. Women Entrepreneurship in India (Category I).

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Figure A4. Challenges faced by women entrepreneurship in India (Category II).

Using the 'Cases' section of NVivo 14, the researcher created five categories—women entrepreneurship, challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, strategies to overcome these challenges, contributions to social development, and contributions to economic development—to organize the relevant coding. The second-order codes related to the main research questions were then systematically grouped within these categories.

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Figure A5. Strategies to overcome challenges faced by women entrepreneurship in India (Category III).

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Figure A6. Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs in Societal development in India (Category IV).

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Figure A7. Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs in Indian Economic development (Category V).

5) Furthermore, the researcher analyzed the developed categories in relation to the research questions to identify key themes, providing deeper insights into the challenges and contributions of women entrepreneurs.

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Figure A8. Category Classification.

6) Furthermore, a Framework Matrix was created within the 'Notes' section of NVivo 14 to systematically organize the data using rows and category nodes for comprehensive analysis of the secondary data. During this process, the researcher also identified key themes by utilizing the ‘Autocode’ function in NVivo 14, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of thematic extraction.

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Figure A9. Framework Matrix.

7) After thoroughly examining the collected data and identified patterns within the Framework Matrix, the researcher was able to identify key qualitative themes related to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India. These themes formed the basis for developing the study’s findings. This systematic approach ensures that the conclusions are well-grounded in the data, enhancing the study’s credibility and relevance.

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Figure A10. Key themes of the study.

Appendix II: Documents Selected for Analysis

Table A1. Documents selected for Analysis.

S. N.	Author (s)	Date	Journals	Topics	URL
1	Panda, S.	2018	Gender in Management: An International Journal	Constraints faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries: review and ranking	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324199138 _Constraints_faced_by_women_entrepreneurs_in_developing _countries_review_and_ranking
2	Chaudhari, K. V.	2018	International Journal of Research in all Subjects in Multi Languages	Role of Women Entrepreneurship in Social Development	https://www.raijmr.com/ijrsml/ wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ IJRSML_2018_vol06_Sp_issue_3_60.pdf
3	Rosca, E., Agarwal, N. and Brem, A.	2020	Technological Forecasting & Social Change	Women entrepreneurs as agents of change: A comparative analysis of social entrepreneurship processes in emerging markets	https://www.sciencedirect.com/ science/article/abs/pii/S0040162518318900
4	Sahoo, C.	2020	International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology	Women Entrepreneurship in India: An Insight into Problems, Prospects and Development	https://www.academia.edu/79692637/Women_ Entrepreneurship_in_India_An_Insight_into_Problems_ Prospects_and_Development
5	Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring	2022	Global Entrepreneurship Monitor	GEM 2021/22 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report from Crisis to Opportunity	https://www.gemconsortium.org/ report/gem-202122-womens-entrepreneurship- report-from-crisis-to-opportunity

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Siddique, M. R. (2025). Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis, 11(2), 57-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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Siddique, M. R. Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. Int. J. Sci. Qual. Anal. 2025, 11(2), 57-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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Siddique MR. Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. Int J Sci Qual Anal. 2025;11(2):57-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12,
  author = {Majibur Rahman Siddique},
  title = {Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India
},
  journal = {International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {57-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  abstract = {In recent years, the global entrepreneurial landscape has seen a significant transformation, particularly in women entrepreneurship. However, the scenario differs in India. Despite making up 48.5% of the population, women account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs. Research indicates this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. In this context, this study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The research adopted a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze secondary data from five specific documents. The data was examined using a combination of document and content analysis, with the aid of NVivo 14 software. The analysis revealed five key themes: the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, persistent gender stereotypes, various internal and external challenges, women's role in socio-economic development, and the urgent need for three-tier strategy. According to the findings, women make up only 14% of entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, women-led enterprises are notably rare, particularly in the formal sector, where they account for less than 5% of all businesses. The findings further indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle the challenges confronted by women entrepreneurs in India.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India

AU  - Majibur Rahman Siddique
Y1  - 2025/09/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
T2  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
SP  - 57
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8164
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
AB  - In recent years, the global entrepreneurial landscape has seen a significant transformation, particularly in women entrepreneurship. However, the scenario differs in India. Despite making up 48.5% of the population, women account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs. Research indicates this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. In this context, this study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The research adopted a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze secondary data from five specific documents. The data was examined using a combination of document and content analysis, with the aid of NVivo 14 software. The analysis revealed five key themes: the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, persistent gender stereotypes, various internal and external challenges, women's role in socio-economic development, and the urgent need for three-tier strategy. According to the findings, women make up only 14% of entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, women-led enterprises are notably rare, particularly in the formal sector, where they account for less than 5% of all businesses. The findings further indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle the challenges confronted by women entrepreneurs in India.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Majibur Rahman Siddique

Quest International College, Pokhara University, Lalitpur, Nepal

Biography: Majibur Rahman Siddique is a recent MBA graduate in Finance from Pokhara University, Nepal, where he earned a place on the Dean’s List for academic excellence. He has a deep interest in educational research, particularly in exploring how management principles can be effectively applied to enhance learning and development. As an independent researcher, he is passionate about contributing to both academic and practical initiatives that promote innovation and growth in education and society. His recent work includes a thesis on the “Society 6.0”, reflecting his commitment to emerging and future-focused research topics

Research Fields: Business, Strategic Management, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Social Science

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http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0098-6110

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Siddique, M. R. (2025). Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis, 11(2), 57-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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ACS Style

Siddique, M. R. Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. Int. J. Sci. Qual. Anal. 2025, 11(2), 57-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

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AMA Style

Siddique MR. Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India. Int J Sci Qual Anal. 2025;11(2):57-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12,
  author = {Majibur Rahman Siddique},
  title = {Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India
},
  journal = {International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis},
  volume = {11},
  number = {2},
  pages = {57-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsqa.20251102.12},
  abstract = {In recent years, the global entrepreneurial landscape has seen a significant transformation, particularly in women entrepreneurship. However, the scenario differs in India. Despite making up 48.5% of the population, women account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs. Research indicates this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. In this context, this study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The research adopted a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze secondary data from five specific documents. The data was examined using a combination of document and content analysis, with the aid of NVivo 14 software. The analysis revealed five key themes: the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, persistent gender stereotypes, various internal and external challenges, women's role in socio-economic development, and the urgent need for three-tier strategy. According to the findings, women make up only 14% of entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, women-led enterprises are notably rare, particularly in the formal sector, where they account for less than 5% of all businesses. The findings further indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle the challenges confronted by women entrepreneurs in India.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Economic Development in India

AU  - Majibur Rahman Siddique
Y1  - 2025/09/09
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
T2  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis
SP  - 57
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8164
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsqa.20251102.12
AB  - In recent years, the global entrepreneurial landscape has seen a significant transformation, particularly in women entrepreneurship. However, the scenario differs in India. Despite making up 48.5% of the population, women account for only about 14% of entrepreneurs. Research indicates this gap is largely due to persistent challenges that discourage women's participation. In this context, this study investigates the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India during the establishment and management of new business ventures, while also examining their contributions to socio-economic development through innovation and creativity. The research adopted a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze secondary data from five specific documents. The data was examined using a combination of document and content analysis, with the aid of NVivo 14 software. The analysis revealed five key themes: the rise of women entrepreneurs in India, persistent gender stereotypes, various internal and external challenges, women's role in socio-economic development, and the urgent need for three-tier strategy. According to the findings, women make up only 14% of entrepreneurs in India. Moreover, women-led enterprises are notably rare, particularly in the formal sector, where they account for less than 5% of all businesses. The findings further indicate that women entrepreneurs encounter a range of internal challenges, including limited education, inadequate entrepreneurial skills, health concerns, low self-confidence, and restricted access to entrepreneurial networks. In contrast, external challenges comprise gender discrimination, limited financial resources, lack of training and infrastructure, poor awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, work-life imbalance, competitive market conditions, and labor market constraints. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to socio-economic progress by creating employment, mobilizing capital, alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, challenging traditional gender norms, and fostering balanced regional development. In addition, the study recommends a three-tier collaborative strategy—personal, societal, and governmental approaches—to effectively tackle the challenges confronted by women entrepreneurs in India.

VL  - 11
IS  - 2
ER  -

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