Title: Explaining women's entrepreneurship in Bhutan: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Authors: Madhura Bedarkar; Yogesh Brahmankar; Tenzin Rabgay; Kinley Yangdon

Addresses: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune (SIBMP), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Knowledge Village Lavale, Tal Mulshi, Via Sus Road, Pune – 412115, India ' Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Pune (SIBMP), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Knowledge Village Lavale, Tal Mulshi, Via Sus Road, Pune – 412115, India ' Gedu College of Business Studies, The Royal University of Bhutan, Gedu, Chukha, Bhutan ' Gedu College of Business Studies, The Royal University of Bhutan, Gedu, Chukha, Bhutan

Abstract: The study explores the experience of women entrepreneurs in the unorganised sector of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to discover the experiences of the women entrepreneurs and 12 super-ordinate themes were drawn. It is found that the motivational factors to take up entrepreneurship varied from having to support family to taking up entrepreneurship as career option due to low education. Access to finance; work-family conflict; fragmented and saturated markets; lack of infrastructural support; difficulty in hiring employees are some of the challenges faced. The findings are mostly consistent with similar previous studies conducted in the region. The study proposes that sector-specific micro-finance schemes and a collaborative network of government and non-government organisations would help in addressing the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. This research is among the initial studies conducted in Bhutan pertaining to women's entrepreneurship and in particular using IPA to explore the in-depth experiences of the women entrepreneurs.

Keywords: women entrepreneurship; interpretative phenomenological analysis; IPA; Bhutan; informal and unorganised sector.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2023.132443

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2023 Vol.49 No.2, pp.263 - 286

Received: 23 Dec 2019
Accepted: 01 Apr 2020
Published online: 20 Jul 2023 *

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