<p>Women who operate small-scale farms and sell to small
markets in Indiana may encounter certain obstacles and constraints due to
self-employment in the traditionally male-dominated field of agriculture.
Researchers have recognized the role of sustainable agriculture ideology in attracting
women to these niche agricultural markets. Despite increasing opportunities for
women in sustainable agriculture, research suggests that traditional gender
roles are often maintained, manifesting itself through several obstacles
(Pilgeram & Amos, 2015). Female agricultural entrepreneurs encounter
obstacles including work-family balance, geographic barriers, access to
physical resources, access to financial resources, access to places of
information. Previous research indicates that female entrepreneurs have less
access to human, social, and financial capital to support their business
ventures (Powell & Eddleston, 2013). However, this study explored the
feminine perspective and management styles which may serve as beneficial
resources. </p>
<p>The purpose of this study was to explore and describe
existing obstacles encountered by female entrepreneurs in niche agricultural
markets and their methods of building resilience in their business.
Quantitative data was collected through an online survey of 62 agricultural
entrepreneurs across the state of Indiana. Participants were asked questions
pertaining to their business structure, resources, constraints, processes,
achievements, and demographics. Several responses to open-ended questions were
also collected and analyzed through open, axial coding. Study results include
the diversity of the population, value of human capital resources,
prioritization of quality products, significance of internal constraints, discrepancies
in division of labor and women’s obstacles to access to social networks. A
greater understanding of the obstacles encountered by women agricultural
entrepreneurs can also provide valuable insight to Land-Grant University
Extension, policymakers, and stakeholders in the Indiana agriculture industry. </p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/12269015 |
| Date | 08 May 2020 |
| Creators | Elizabeth M Alexander (8812367) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Obstacles_Encountered_And_Overcome_By_Female_Agricultural_Entrepreneurs_in_Niche_Markets/12269015 |
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