20.500.12556/RUL-179913 Identities of female entrepreneurs from different periods This article explores how female entrepreneurs construct and negotiate entrepreneurial identities across socialist, transition, and post-socialist periods in Slovenia. Drawing on feminist, post-structuralist, and identity-theory perspectives, we ask what determines women’s entrepreneurial identities and how multiple roles and changing institutions shape them. Using a qualitative multiple-case design, we analyze 15 information-rich cases se- lected through purposive sampling and based on in-depth semi-structured interviews and supporting documents. Qualitative content analysis and cross-case comparison identified patterns within and across the three periods. Results show that women’s motives combine economic, autonomy, and mission-driven goals; that entrepreneurial identity is closely intertwined with motherhood, partnership, and community roles; and that evolving ecosys- tems offer increasing but still fragmented support. Identity work intensifies at transitions between employment and entrepreneurship and when growth ambitions confront care re- sponsibilities. We conclude that female entrepreneurial identities in Slovenia are historically and institutionally embedded and that gender-integrative, context-sensitive ecosystem measures are needed to support diverse entrepreneurial pathways and long-term, socially responsible growth. female entrepreneurs entrepreneurial identity Slovenia entrepreneurship women's question gender Slovenija podjetništvo žensko vprašanje spol Slovenija true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-02-26 14:41:54 2026-02-26 14:43:55 2026-02-27 04:32:13 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 15 str. iss. 1, article no. 24 Vol. 16 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 614 2076-3387 10.3390/admsci16010024 263370243 admsci-16-00024.pdf admsci-16-00024.pdf 1 E2877596A5AF9D6B596B3D71485BFBCD a6e884fe2374cfbc9f5752ed8914583609bd1e7e23312c3e89b9d2a5b1c97be1 d47b7658-1318-11f1-a1ba-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=228851 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/16/1/24 0 cdc0a51e-1318-11f1-a1ba-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=228850 Ekonomska fakulteta 0 0 0