Marriage, Markets, and Mentorship: An Ethnography on the Ambitions of and Obstacles Facing Nigerian Women Micro-Entrprenuers

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
Social Impact Research Experience (SIRE)
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
women
micro-enterprise
Nigeria
Lagos
ethnography
Business
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Ogunrinde, Adebisi
Contributor
Abstract

This paper explores the challenges facing women micro-entrepreneurs in Lagos, Nigeria by way of a case study of Peace Akpotu, a salon-owner operating in Ajegunle. Research entailed the use of participant observation and ethnography to uncover several difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs, including the burdens of relocation, domestic duties, and childbirth upon marriage. Additional obstacles, such as a less economically resourced customer base, poor mechanisms to determine customer preferences, and steep competition compound with limited access to business education for women entrepreneurs and a volatile market, further complicating business operations. Moreover, a reframing of what constitutes a successful business allows for the value of positive externalities irrespective of profit from women-owned business to be considered, including mentorship, the creation of a safe social space for women, and women’s empowerment. Opportunities to enhance these positive externalities and mitigate challenges are explored.

Advisor
Robert Jensen
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Publication date
2015-01-01
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Recommended citation
Collection