Identities of female entrepreneurs from different periods

Klanšek, Lučka (avtor), Antončič, Boštjan (avtor)

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: female entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial identity, Slovenia, entrepreneurship, women's question, gender
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: EF - Ekonomska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 15 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 16, iss. 1, article no. 24
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179913
• UDK: 614
• ISSN pri članku: 2076-3387
• DOI: 10.3390/admsci16010024
• COBISS.SI-ID: 263370243
• Datum objave v RUL: 26.02.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Administrative sciences
• Skrajšan naslov: Adm. sci.
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3387
• COBISS.SI-ID: 520095769

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: Slovenija, podjetništvo, žensko vprašanje, spol, Slovenija

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P5-0117
• Naslov: Trajnostna konkurenčnost slovenskega gospodarstva v evropskem in globalnem okviru