Challenges faced by urban Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs

[摘要] The primary objective of this study was to investigate the challenges that urban Zimbabweanwomen entrepreneurs face. The study was motivated by the theoretical findings that womenhave always been discriminated against politically, economically, socia-culturally, legally,educationally and at work. Scholars of gender studies assert that despite the fact that over thelast decades women had attained educational levels comparable to those of men, women stillremained in relatively low paying jobs (Wirth, 2001:49; Carter & Silva, 2010:19, 20-1). Due tofrustrations and challenges faced in the workplace, some women in both developed anddeveloping countries had left formal employment to start their own businesses. According toCoulter (2000:114), even in business where women had opted to be, they continued to facechallenges.A review of literature further indicated that the historical background of women in developedcountries differed from that of women in developing countries because of differences inenvironmental factors (Adler & Israeli quoted by Waldie & Ardesua, 2004:79). However, thechallenges that women faced were similar except that in developed countries more gains hadbeen registered in improving women's lives compared to developing countries. Theoretical findings about Zimbabwe showed that historically, women were excluded fromactively participating in politics and in decision making. Economically, women were deniedownership of resources such as land and were thus dependent on men who were regarded asbread winners. Socia-culturally, activities were arranged according to gender; thus, there wereactivities strictly done by men and others reserved for women. Legally, women were regardedas minors and for that reason women could not enter into any contractual obligations in theirown right. In regards to education, girls were encouraged to take up subjects that were notstrategically linked to the mainstream economy, while boys were channeled towards subjectsthat would enable them to occupy meaningful and strategic positions in the workplace.However, it was worth noting that the Government of Zimbabwe, just like governments inother countries had instituted legal amendments to redress discrimination on the basis of sex and positive developments had been achieved. These developments had enabled women tostart their own businesses.According to Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Zimbabwe, 2010}, in Zimbabwe,there are 20 665 registered urban women entrepreneurs. In the light of the statement byCoulter (2000:114) that in business women continued to face challenges, it was fundamentalthat the challenges faced by urban Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs be identified, hence theneed for this study. Identification of these challenges would enable the government ofZimbabwe and other stakeholders to devise specific policies and strategies to minimise theimpact of these challenges on women owned businesses. This would enable womenentrepreneurs to operate viable and sustainable businesses. An empirical study was thereforeconducted to investigate what the challenges women entrepreneurs faced were. This study was a combination of quantitative research design and descriptive research in whichthe simple random sampling technique was used to draw the sample. The sample comprised580 registered women entrepreneurs drawn from the Small and Medium Enterprises sector inthe four major cities of Zimbabwe, namely, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo. The surveymethod was adopted as the data gathering method where a self constructed and selfadministered questionnaire was used as the data gathering instrument. A pilot study wasconducted before the questionnaires were distributed for the main study. Reliability testing ofthe questionnaire showed a Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.802 for all Likert questions based onthe background of women of Zimbabwe and business challenges. These results indicated thatthe questionnaire was reliable as a data collecting instrument.Data collected was transformed for statistical analysis through the use of Excel software. Afterdata processing, the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis.Statistical techniques used in this study included frequencies, percentages, cross tabulationsand Pearson chi-square tests, descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Relating to respondents' demographic profile, empirical results showed that 50.4 percent of therespondents in this study are married compared to 24.5 percent single and 25.1 percentseparated, divorced or widowed. Results further indicated that 83.8 percent of the respondentshave children and 73.2 percent have dependent children. The average number of children is2.26 and the average number of dependent children is 1.50. The average age of respondents inthis study was 38.0 years. Results further indicated that respondents in this study are highlyqualified, with 51.5 percent having tertiary education. The dominant religion in this study wasChristianity.Most of the respondents owned businesses in the services sector compared to 'other'businesses (67.2 percent and 32.8 percent respectively). Results indicated that 54.7 percent ofthe respondents had been in business for 5 years and below. Results also showed that 37.2percent of the respondents had relevant start-up experience. In terms of start-up capital,women entrepreneurs in this study used internal more than external sources of finance (79.2percent and 20.8 percent respectively). Findings also indicated that women entrepreneurs werepredominantly sole proprietors compared to those in partnership. The following empirical findings were indicated regarding women's background. Firstly, womencan now actively participate in politics and decision making processes in spite of the fact thatwomen have more confidence in male than female political leaders. Secondly, economically,women can own property in their own right and the majority of women are no longerfinancially dependent on men. Thirdly, socio-culturallv, women are more confident than theywere historically and can now challenge men on religious issues. Fourthly, women can nowengage in activities that were previously done by men only, such as being formally employed.Men can also perform duties that were previously done by women only. Fifthly, legally, menand women are equal before the law. Sixthly, after 18 years of age, women can make any legaldecisions without consulting male members of the family. Seventhly, some men do not acceptwomen as their equals. Eighthly, some men still abuse their wives because they have paidlobola (bride price) for them. Ninthly, despite their legal rights, married women predominantly still have to consult their husbands before making any business decisions. Tenthly, regardingeducation, girls are now given equal educational opportunities by their parents and at schoolgirls are free to study subjects and embark on courses of their choices. However, there are stillsome cultures and religions that expect girls to leave school young to marry.Finally, at work, both in the private and public sectors, there are equal job opportunities forboth men and women. There are also fair promotional opportunities for both men and womenin the public and private sectors. Men and women doing the same jobs are remunerated at thesame levels and there is equal taxation for both men and women. There are no jobs exclusivelyreserved for women both in the government and private sectors. However, there are moreeducated men than women in the job market.According to empirical results, women started their businesses due to opportunity (pull) andnecessity (push) factors. Findings also showed that some women have left formal employmentto start their own businesses due to work related factors such as the glass ceiling that blockedtheir access to top executive ranks; gender role stereo typing, negative societal influences andpay differentials, lack of acceptance by men, sexual harassment, balancing home and familyresponsibilities, and stress. The following empirical results were revealed about the market environment: First, customersno longer look down upon women owned businesses. Second, male workers now respectwomen who have employed them. Third, suppliers now offer both men and womenentrepreneurs the same credit terms. Fourth, bank officials in Zimbabwe give women the sametreatment as men when applying for loans. Fifth, women entrepreneurs can easily accessestablished private business networks. Sixth, male auditors have developed a positive attitudetowards women running businesses. Finally, some men entrepreneurs have accepted womenentrepreneurs as equal business partners.The study also revealed some challenges that women entrepreneurs still have to contend within the market environment. Women still have a problem of lack of collateral. Another challenge that women entrepreneurs face is that of becoming members of formal business organisations.Women also find it difficult to access government networks. According to empirical findings onthe macro environment, women now have equal chances of getting business tenders as men.On the socio-cultural front women indicated that their religions allowed them to run their ownbusinesses. There are now support services to enable women to operate their own businesses.Respondents also indicated that they registered their businesses without legal problems andthat women can now own property in their own names. Women entrepreneurs also confirmedthat amended laws have brought equality between men and women entrepreneurs.However, empirical results also indicated that at economic level, women still find it difficult toenter male dominated sectors like construction. Socia-culturally, most women entrepreneursindicated that they still face the challenges of balancing home and business responsibilities.Despite the availability of support services, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has also exacerbated theirworkload. Married women still have to request their husbands to co-sign before they can getany loans. Conclusively, empirical findings indicate that most of the cases of discrimination highlighted inthe problem statement in Chapter 1 Section 1.4, and in the historical background ofZimbabwean business women, have been reduced and in some cases eliminated.

[发布机构] University of the Free State