Divergences of economic and social dimensions of sixteen businesswomen and businessmen based on Gender on Development

Abstract

This research analyzes the relationship between the economic and social dimensions that converge in the empowerment. The sample consist of sixteen businessmen and businesswomen owners of a MSMEs, of eight Mexican states, based on Gender and Development (GAD) theory. The context of the analysis is the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved semi-structured interviews, which were processed with Atlas Ti. The research applied an axial coding, linking the empowerment with the economic and social dimensions. It shows that the main motivation in the economic dimension of business owners is economic autonomy and the management of their time. At the beginning of the entrepreneurship, the main challenges were fear and lack of resources. Nowadays, the hardships they face are the pandemic effects, the payment of taxes, and insecurity. In the social dimension, business owners agree that family is a fundamental aspect of their life. The research concludes that social dimension divergence occurs in gender disparities like care of children and household activities done almost exclusively by women, which impacts their business activity (economic dimension). It is recommended to strengthen public policies focused on GAD and its multidimensional link to empowerment.