Identities of female entrepreneurs from different periods

Klanšek, Lučka (author), Antončič, Boštjan (author)

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: female entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial identity, Slovenia, entrepreneurship, women's question, gender
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: EF - School of Economics and Business
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, iss. 1, article no. 24
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179913
• UDC: 614
• ISSN on article: 2076-3387
• DOI: 10.3390/admsci16010024
• COBISS.SI-ID: 263370243
• Publication date in RUL: 26.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Administrative sciences
• Shortened title: Adm. sci.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3387
• COBISS.SI-ID: 520095769

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Slovenija, podjetništvo, žensko vprašanje, spol, Slovenija

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P5-0117
• Name: Trajnostna konkurenčnost slovenskega gospodarstva v evropskem in globalnem okviru