Immigrant entrepreneurship and gender dimensions: A systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: This paper discusses whether the gender dimension of immigrants influences their entrepreneurial activities in host societies. Human capital theory, social capital theory, and disadvantage theory are used to explore immigrant entrepreneurship and its understanding as a migration research field worthy of more attention.

Design/methodology/approach: Based on the systematic analysis of literature and peer-reviewed papers, a comprehensive analytical framework was developed. This framework is provided with an overview to discover the 20 articles written between 2000 and 2021 from different countries are discussed.

Findings: It has been found that female immigrant entrepreneurs face many different challenges to sustain their businesses in the host countries, based on their human capital, social-capital, and disadvantage perspectives. Consequently, this research adds to the literature on female immigrants and has practical implications for policymakers and the immigrant community.

Social Implications: The implication of this study is that destination countries should do something to improve the human and social capital of female immigrants to decrease the disadvantages they face.

Originality/value: In this study, we specifically consider female immigrant enterprises to be as important as male enterprises in the destination countries to support the social and economic integration of migrants. On the other hand, this study also shows the disadvantages female immigrant entrepreneurs face before establishing a business and after starting their entrepreneurial activities.