Socio-Cultural Constraints and the Performance of Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

This study explores the impact of socio-cultural factors on the performance of women entrepreneurs in emerging economies (EEs), with a specific focus on Bangladesh. Despite the growing presence of female entrepreneurs, their performance remains constrained by deep-rooted societal norms and institutional barriers. The research examines four critical socio-cultural variables – attitudes towards wealth/material gain, attitudes towards innovation, attitudes towards risk-taking, and gender discrimination – and their influence on entrepreneurial outcomes. Drawing upon a sample of 245 female entrepreneurs, data were collected through both online and offline surveys using structured questionnaires. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the study tested four hypotheses. The findings reveal that, contrary to popular assumptions, attitudes towards wealth, innovation, and risk-taking do not significantly influence the performance of women entrepreneurs in the context studied. However, gender discrimination was found to have a statistically significant impact, underscoring its persistent role as a barrier to female entrepreneurial success. The study contributes to the literature by highlighting how entrenched gender norms and discriminatory practices outweigh individual attitudes in shaping entrepreneurial performance. Practical implications call for targeted policy interventions, increased access to mentorship and business education, and the dismantling of systemic 2026biases. Theoretically, the research reinforces the importance of contextualising female entrepreneurship within broader socio-cultural frameworks. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Keywords: Women Entrepreneurship, Socio-Cultural Factors, Gender Discrimination, Entrepreneurial Performance, Emerging Economies

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