How female entrepreneurs build strong business relationships: the power of gender stereotypes

PurposeAdopting a feminist constructionist perspective, this article proposes an analysis of the micro-level processes and dynamics of interpersonal, gendered, business relationships between female entrepreneurs, therefore constituting an extension to network theory in the women's entrepreneurship research field.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative research builds on a single, longitudinal case study of a successful, 15-years long collaboration between two female entrepreneurs. Qualitative data were collected over two years, through formal and informal interviews with the entrepreneurs, observations and complementary documentation. The data analysis is based on a grounded theory and narrative approach.FindingsThe article proposes a thick narrative of the evolution of the dyadic business relationship, and reveals the power of gender role stereotypes in its progressive formation and development.Research limitations/implicationsThe article produces situated knowledge about female entrepreneurs and strong interpersonal business ties. The limitations relate to the specificity of the case analysed, representing the viewpoint of privileged, white, Western, educated and wealthy female entrepreneurs. It therefore does not account for the diversity of women's entrepreneurship.Originality/valueThe article enriches and extends social network theory in the women's entrepreneurship field through analysing how gender is done in discursive and social practices at the interpersonal level. The case also constitutes an illustration of social feminism in women's entrepreneurial practice, challenging dominant gender stereotypes.

Feminist Interpretations of Action and the Public in Hannah Arendt’s Theory

"Feminist Interpretations of Action and the Public in Hannah Arendt’s Theory. Arendt’s typology of human activity and her arguments on the precondition of politics allow for a variety in interpretations for contemporary political thought. The feminist reception of Arendt’s work ranges from critical to conciliatory readings that attempt to find the points in which Arendt’s theory might inspire a feminist political project. In this paper I explore the ways in which feminist thought has responded to Arendt’s definition of action, freedom and politics, and whether her theoretical framework can be useful in a feminist rethinking of politics, power and the public realm. Keywords: Hannah Arendt, political action, the Public, the Social, feminism "

Early childhood education and CARE: Won’t somebody think of the children?

‘Won’t somebody think of the children’ is a battle cry calling into question the current positioning of the child and care within international/national childcare policy. This plea is constructed within a framework that recognizes that childcare policies may be guided, developed and implemented in good faith. Nevertheless, there are often (un)intended consequences. The documentary analysis traces the international and Irish quality, affordability and equality arguments underpinning childcare policies and reveals that we may have not only lost sight of the child, but the child is nowhere in sight ([un]intended consequence). While this documentary analysis makes specific reference to the Irish context, the discussion may nonetheless be relevant to the wider international Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) community. The analysis draws on my Irish study ( Nolan, 2019 ), a social feminism exploration of ECEC leadership that revealed the difficulty the stakeholders had in marrying their understanding of children and care within the constantly changing international/national conceptualizations of both. While the depiction of the child and the current state of care in the sector may appear bleak, there is the hope that by drawing attention to this situation, somebody (you and I) will answer the call to battle, and begin a dialogue/debate on the child and care in ECEC.

AWARENESS ON ISLAMIC FEMINISM: Learning From Gus Dur and Husein Muhammad

Women has been an interesting research discourse due to various remaining practical problems. This is mainly triggered by embedded patriarchal culture within society. Ironically, men in general take advantage of this situation and make a justification on the basis of religious propositions. Therefore, this study becomes necessary by presenting the two influential male scholars promoting gender equality effort. The author tries to cooperate the two figures in a feminist frame. This study uses a critical analysis approach. The results of this study indicate that Gus Dur tends to adopt social feminism, while Husein Muhammad tends to be liberal feminism. Both feminism views of Gus Dur and Husein Muhammad intersect on humanity based on Islamic values. Nevertheless, Husein explicitly wrote about Gender. On the other hand, Gus Dur's view was implied from his writings. The feminist view of the two figures emerges as a social unrest response towards inequality. Therefore the main principle they proposed was justice. To the author, Husein's view did not taken into account feminist view of western scholars; Husein inclined to the opinion of As-Sat} bi and Ghazali. Meanwhile, independence of Gus Dur's feminist view has not been clearly seen.الملخص: إن المرأة موضوع بحث جذّاب لما فيها من مسائل وقضايا خاصة في مجال التطبيق الواقعي. ومن الأسباب هو دوام الثقافة الأبوية. ومع الأسف فإن كثيرا من الرجال يستفيدون هذه الحالة بل ويقوون وجودها على دليل ديني. إن هذا البحث مهم بإحضار شخصيتين معروفتين (من الرجال) ولهما آثار واسهامات في الجنس. حاول الكاتب مقارنة هاتين الشخصييتين في إطار الفكر النسوي . استخدم هذا البحث مدخل دراسة التحليل النقدي. دلّت نتائج البحث على أن نوع الفكر النسوي لعبد الرحمن واحد هو اشتراكي وأما لحسين محمد فلبراليّ. هناك نقطة توافق بين النضال النسوي لعبد الرحمن واحد وحسين محمد هو الروح الإنسانية على أساس القيم الإسلامية. وأما وجه الفرق بينهما فإن حسينأ كتب صريحا عن الجنس. وأما عبد الرحمن واحد فتظهر أفكاره عن الجنس في كتاباته (عن طريق المفهوم). إن فكرة كل منهما نشأت عن الوعي الإجتماعي تجاه الظلم ، لذا فإن الشيئ الأساسي الذي قدماه هو العدالة. طرح الكاتب النقد لفكرة حسين فإنه لم يعتبر بأفكار علماء الجنس الغربيين وهو يميل إلى رأي الشاطبي والغزالي. وأما عبد الرحمن واحد فإن فكرته عن الجنس لم تظهر قائمة مستقلةAbstrak: Wanita merupakan objek penelitian yang menarik, karena masih menyisakan berbagai persoalan terutama dalam praktiknya. Budaya patriarki yang mendarah daging menjadi salah satu pemicunya. Ironisnya kaum laki-laki banyak yang memanfaatkan kondisi ini serta memperkuat dengan dalil agama. Maka penelitian ini diperlukan dengan menghadirkan dua tokoh dari kalangan laki-laki yang cukup berpengaruh dalam perjuangan Gender. Penulis berusaha untuk mengkoparasikan kedua tokoh tersebut dalam bingkai pemikiran feminis. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan studi analisis-kritis. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkaan bahwa corak pemikiran feminisme Gus Dur bersifat sosialais sedangkan Husein Muhammad bersifat liberal. Terdapat titik temu perjuangan feminisme Gus Dur dan Husein Muhammad, yaitu spirit kemanusiaan berdasarkan nilai-nilai Islam. Perbedaannya Husein secara tegas menulis tentang Gender. Sedangkan Gus Dur include (tersirat) kedalam tulisan lainnya. Latar pemikiran feminisme kedua tokoh tersebut lahir dari kegelisahan sosial terhadap ketidakadilan, oleh karenanya prinsip utama yang mereka ajukan adalah keadilan. Kritik penulis terhadap Husein, pemikirannya belum mempertimbangkan ahli feminis dari barat, ia condong ke pendapat As-Sat}bi dan Ghazali. Sedangkan Gus Dur independence pemikiran feminis belum terlihat jelas.