The Role of Networks in Female Entrepreneurhip : What Hinders Females' Weak-ties Networking Activities

Abstract: Background: Although numerous attempts have been made by governments and policy makers to increase female entrepreneurship given its contributions to job creation and societal development in general, there is still a big gap between male and female entrepreneurship in many countries. Various studies have provided evidence emphasizing that having a weak social position and inadequate connection to support networks is what negatively affect women’s entrepreneurship. In Sweden, the context of this study, while the position of women in society keeps on getting stronger and stronger considering the gender equality policies in place, female entrepreneurs are still reported to be greatly reliant on small networks made up of family and friends. While the concept that social networks contribute to enhancing entrepreneurship might not be new, little has been studied on how Weak-ties connections can be of importance in advancing women’s entrepreneurship, particularly in Sweden. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the role of strong-ties and weak-ties networks in the entrepreneurial activities of female entrepreneurs, and furthermore explore what hinders female entrepreneurs from utilizing weak-ties networks, given that female entrepreneurs are said to rely more on strong-ties networks. Method: A small sample of Swedish female entrepreneurs is being studied through semi-structured interviews in aims to gain an understanding of the issues at stake. Conclusion: The empirical findings have showed that female entrepreneurs are using their strong-ties and weak-ties for acquiring knowledge and support. Furthermore, issues such as lack of time, failure to find like-minded people, having low drive for growth, lacking networking skills, and changes in the environment were found to hinder female entrepreneurs from utilizing wider weak-ties.