Women Entrepreneurship in India: A Comparative and Analytical Assessment Using GEM Indicators

Abstract

The participation of women in entrepreneurship is crucial for any economy to foster inclusive growth. This research by using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) for India found that the country experiences significant gender differences in the prevalence of early-stage entrepreneurial activity, attitudes, motivations and business survival which jointly suggest that the country still continues to observe gender gap in the entrepreneurial setting. Findings shows that women’s TEA (Total Early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity) was lower compared to men’s, leading to a low W/M ratio of 0.64 and position India amongst the highly gender-unequal ecosystems of the world. The Exit/Entry ratio for women was found to be high at the level of 1.40, implying that women had more difficulty in sustaining their ventures. Despite displaying the highest resilience and motivation, women entrepreneurs face the credibility gap and persistent paucity of financial resources which is requisite to their entrepreneurial pursuits and constitute the prime impediment. According to the research, gender-sensitive policies increasing access to finance, improving skills, and addressing socio-cultural barriers are essential for the sustained survival of women entrepreneurs in India.