Title: Analysis of the barriers and limitations for the development of rural women's entrepreneurship

Authors: Reza Movahedi; Ahmad Yaghoubi-Farani

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Azadegan St., Hamedan, 6517833131, Iran. ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Azadegan St., Hamedan, 6517833131, Iran

Abstract: This study, by considering the importance of entrepreneurship in rural communities, has the aim to identify and explore barriers and limitations of the development of rural women's entrepreneurship in Iran. This research has been conducted using an exploratory qualitative research methodology with two groups of respondents including both experts on entrepreneurship and rural women's entrepreneurs. Data were gathered through interviews and the Delphi technique. The data collection process was conducted to obtain complete and comprehensive data, and saturation was attained in two rounds. The results revealed that barriers and limitations of rural women entrepreneurship can be divided into nine: demographics; personality and behavioural conditions of rural women; family characteristics; knowledge and skills of rural women (education, experience and communication); cultural and social conditions (community and rural); access to facilities and services needed for rural women (in the process of setting up, managing, and developing businesses); law and legal factors, financial and economic factors; institutional and organisational factors; and geographical and environmental conditions (rural environment).

Keywords: female entrepreneurship; rural entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial development; gender limitations; Iran; women entrepreneurs; rural communities; barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.046476

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.15 No.4, pp.469 - 487

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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