Women Entrepreneurs & Work Life Balance: Intrinsic Challenges of Family Support, Stress and Health

Abstract

Today, India is witnessing the emergence of a considerable number of women entrepreneurs, which has broken the myth that entrepreneurship is a male prerogative. But, despite changing socio-cultural environment and paradigm shift in terms of better access to higher education, employment, empowerment and economic independence to women; female entrepreneurship in India is still at its nascent stage; while there is potential for many more. The reasons: The hurdles and hindrances that women face to walk the extra mile and their struggles that hamper the entry and growth of women entrepreneurs need to be explored. While women experience the same phases of entrepreneurship as do men: Setting up a venture, its sustainability and growth; unlike their male counterparts, they face several intrinsic barriers that first block their entrance as business people, and later their survival and growth as women entrepreneur. The main obstacle in their journey of entrepreneurship is to maintain balance between Work and family life: Family support, stress and health. The purpose of this research is to understand these challenges. This exploratory report is the result of a survey that has been conducted on a sample size of 150 businesswomen. A Quantitative research method is being used for gathering the data. Findings of the study indicate that the significance value is 0.0001 (i.e., p = .0001), which is less than 0.05. And, therefore, there is a statistically significant difference between the variables. (p value is .007) i.e. P>0.05. Therefore, we accept the null hypothesis and can say that, for women entrepreneurs, to maintain Work and life balance is stressful and that it impacts their entrepreneurial success. The research in this field is limited and the Area needs to be explored.