Gender and Entrepreneurship: An Ethnographic Approach

by Bruni; Attila

• ISBN13: 9780415352284
• ISBN10: 0415352282
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-01-21
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Entrepreneurship can be read as a cultural and economic phenomenon. In recent times, gender has become an increasing influence on entrepreneurship. This groundbreaking new study considers both gender and entrepreneurship as symbolic forms, looking at their diverse patterns and social representation. Presenting an ethnographic study of the gender structuring of entrepreneurship, the work a employs three strategies: * A critical survey of gender studies which argues that entrepreneurship is a cultural model of masculinity that obstructs the expression of other models * "Reflexive" ethnographic observation conducted in five small firms which describes how business cultures are "gendered" and how gender is the product of a social practice * An analysis of how discursive and narrative practices in business cultures constitute gender and entrepreneurship Gender and Entrepreneurshipis essential reading for postgraduate students, researchers and academics with an interest in entrepreneurship,business and management, innovation economics and gender studies.

Table of Contents

List of tables	vii
Acknowledgements	viii
Introduction: gender and entrepreneurship as entwined practices	1	(9)
In the subjunctive mode	3	(4)
An overview	7	(3)
1 How a gender approach to entrepreneurship differs from the study of women entrepreneurs	10	(23)
Entrepreneur-mentality	11	(3)
Women entrepreneurs: the victims of gendered research practices	14	(10)
Feminist organizations and the women's standpoint	24	(7)
Can we do differently?	31	(2)
2 Gender as a social practice, entrepreneurship as a form of masculinity: a theoretical framework	33	(29)
Gender: a situated performance in the intersections between bodies, discourses and practices	34	(8)
Making masculinity (in)visible	42	(5)
The symbolics of masculinities: entrepreneurship as a form of masculinity	47	(13)
Conclusions	60	(2)
3 Doing and saying gender: a methodological framework	62	(18)
Reflexive ethnography: from the 'red notebook' to the 'toolbox'	63	(10)
The research context, data collection and data analysis	73	(5)
Conclusions	78	(2)
4 Company ethnographies: the gendering of entrepreneurship and the enterprising of gender	80	(61)
Asie Welders	80	(6)
Asie Welders: an anti-heroic story	86	(4)
Erba Shirts	90	(4)
Erba Shirts: an ordinary case of entrepreneurship	94	(4)
Frau Kitchens	98	(11)
Frau Kitchens: a matter of honour?	109	(6)
LeCo Fashion	115	(6)
LeCo: between tradition and innovation	121	(4)
Atlantis Magazine	125	(6)
Atlantis: does heterosexuality matter?	131	(6)
Conclusions	137	(4)
5 Gender and entrepreneurship as discursive practices	141	(46)
The 'ingredients' of entrepreneurship: risk, money, innovation and gender neutrality	143	(11)
Constructing gender through risk, money and innovation	154	(5)
A 'normal' woman entrepreneur?	159	(2)
Narrating entrepreneurship and gender	161	(23)
Conclusions	184	(3)
6 'Doing family' while doing gender and business: concluding remarks	187	(9)
Appendix: ethnography of practices and ethnographic practice	196	(11)
Notes	207	(3)
References	210	(16)
Index	226