Sisters doing it for themselves?:A Postfeminist critique of Entrepreneurship

Ahl, Helene and Marlow, Susan (2017) Sisters doing it for themselves?:A Postfeminist critique of Entrepreneurship. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2017 (1). ISSN 0065-0668

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Abstract

Within this paper, we critically analyse the intertwined discourses of neo- liberalism, entrepreneurship and postfeminism. Given its foundations upon autonomy, individualism and self-responsibility, entrepreneurship has been positioned as central to the contemporary neo-liberal turn with its focus upon developing an enterprising self in a context of choice and possibility. This echoes the postfeminist agenda where women, emancipated through access to education, employment and positive cultural representations of liberated, economically independent actors, are being encouraged to create new ventures as independent business women. We critique the notion that entrepreneurship is a natural conduit for the postfeminist women to exploit the opportunities offered by encroaching neo-liberalism. Using policy discourses from two contrasting advanced economies, Sweden and the UK, aimed at encouraging women into enterprise, we illustrate how the poststructuralist message is articulated through an aspirational rhetoric of opportunity whilst reproducing gender inequalities.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Academy of Management Proceedings
Subjects:
?? ENTREPRENEURSHIPGENDER POSTFEMINISM ??
ID Code:
127265
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
15 Oct 2019 14:15
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Sep 2023 23:36