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20 Breaking Boundaries: The Case of Women Tech-Entrepreneurs in Lebanon

  • Mona Itani and Alain Daou
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De Gruyter Handbook of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research

Abstract

This chapter explores the case of women social entrepreneurs in Lebanon. In particular, it looks at women in technology and how they break the boundaries in a patriarchal context. Our findings are organised around three themes. First, we show how nascent the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Lebanon is, as many of the women interviewed were unaware that they were social entrepreneurs; second, despite working in a male-dominated field, many of the interviewees use their feminine traits to advance their organisations’ economic and social goals; finally, institutional boundaries of this highly masculinised sector of activity are being redefined and made more inclusive and impactful. Taking an institutional theory perspective, our findings shed light on the formation of women social entrepreneurship in a masculinised context and industry. We are contributing to expanding the definition of social entrepreneurship to include under-represented groups such as female tech-entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Abstract

This chapter explores the case of women social entrepreneurs in Lebanon. In particular, it looks at women in technology and how they break the boundaries in a patriarchal context. Our findings are organised around three themes. First, we show how nascent the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Lebanon is, as many of the women interviewed were unaware that they were social entrepreneurs; second, despite working in a male-dominated field, many of the interviewees use their feminine traits to advance their organisations’ economic and social goals; finally, institutional boundaries of this highly masculinised sector of activity are being redefined and made more inclusive and impactful. Taking an institutional theory perspective, our findings shed light on the formation of women social entrepreneurship in a masculinised context and industry. We are contributing to expanding the definition of social entrepreneurship to include under-represented groups such as female tech-entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents VII
  3. List of Contributors XI
  4. 1 Introduction 1
  5. Part I: Foundations
  6. Introduction 25
  7. 2 Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research: Narratives, Tensions and Future Agendas 29
  8. 3 Fostering Sustainability and Entrepreneurship Through Action Research: The Role of Value Reciprocity and Impact Temporality 45
  9. 4 Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education 63
  10. 5 Consultation: Building Social Relations with Productive Benefits 83
  11. Part II: Leadership
  12. Introduction 103
  13. 6 Value-Driven Leadership in Sustainable Entrepreneurship 107
  14. 7 Back to the Sustainable Future: The Influence of the Big Five Personality Traits on Consideration of Future Consequences 123
  15. 8 Unpacking Opportunity Recognition for Sustainable Entrepreneurship 143
  16. 9 Leadership in Transitions: The Case of Hydrogen 159
  17. Part III: Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Context
  18. Introduction 185
  19. 10 Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Context: Mapping Research on the Nexus and Demarcating Future Research Directions 189
  20. 11 The Untold Story of Women’s Online Business in Bangladesh 213
  21. 12 Climate-Smart Agriculture Diffusion within Smallholder Agriculture Context: The Role of Business Models of Sustainable Entrepreneurs 233
  22. 13 Sustainable Entrepreneurial Storytelling in the Caribbean: Digital Storytelling to Empower Trinidad and Tobago’s Cocoa Sector 255
  23. Part IV: Business Models
  24. Introduction 283
  25. 14 From Economic to Sustainable Value Creation 287
  26. 15 Transformative Organizational Learning for Circular Economy 307
  27. 16 Accelerating Transitions Through Business Model Thinking 323
  28. 17 A Long-Term Perspective on Sustainable Business Modelling Changing Value Creation, Actors and Scope in a Quest to Foster Transformation and Transition 343
  29. Part V: Performance and Impact
  30. Introduction 361
  31. 18 Impact Investment in Southeast Asia: An Overview and Framework 365
  32. 19 Enabling the Agency of Others: The Ultimate Impact of Social Entrepreneurs 389
  33. 20 Breaking Boundaries: The Case of Women Tech-Entrepreneurs in Lebanon 407
  34. 21 Mapping Change in Local Energy: Community Energy Groups and Their Theory of Change 423
  35. List of Figures 441
  36. List of Tables 443
  37. Index 445
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110756159-025

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents VII
  3. List of Contributors XI
  4. 1 Introduction 1
  5. Part I: Foundations
  6. Introduction 25
  7. 2 Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research: Narratives, Tensions and Future Agendas 29
  8. 3 Fostering Sustainability and Entrepreneurship Through Action Research: The Role of Value Reciprocity and Impact Temporality 45
  9. 4 Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education 63
  10. 5 Consultation: Building Social Relations with Productive Benefits 83
  11. Part II: Leadership
  12. Introduction 103
  13. 6 Value-Driven Leadership in Sustainable Entrepreneurship 107
  14. 7 Back to the Sustainable Future: The Influence of the Big Five Personality Traits on Consideration of Future Consequences 123
  15. 8 Unpacking Opportunity Recognition for Sustainable Entrepreneurship 143
  16. 9 Leadership in Transitions: The Case of Hydrogen 159
  17. Part III: Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Context
  18. Introduction 185
  19. 10 Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Context: Mapping Research on the Nexus and Demarcating Future Research Directions 189
  20. 11 The Untold Story of Women’s Online Business in Bangladesh 213
  21. 12 Climate-Smart Agriculture Diffusion within Smallholder Agriculture Context: The Role of Business Models of Sustainable Entrepreneurs 233
  22. 13 Sustainable Entrepreneurial Storytelling in the Caribbean: Digital Storytelling to Empower Trinidad and Tobago’s Cocoa Sector 255
  23. Part IV: Business Models
  24. Introduction 283
  25. 14 From Economic to Sustainable Value Creation 287
  26. 15 Transformative Organizational Learning for Circular Economy 307
  27. 16 Accelerating Transitions Through Business Model Thinking 323
  28. 17 A Long-Term Perspective on Sustainable Business Modelling Changing Value Creation, Actors and Scope in a Quest to Foster Transformation and Transition 343
  29. Part V: Performance and Impact
  30. Introduction 361
  31. 18 Impact Investment in Southeast Asia: An Overview and Framework 365
  32. 19 Enabling the Agency of Others: The Ultimate Impact of Social Entrepreneurs 389
  33. 20 Breaking Boundaries: The Case of Women Tech-Entrepreneurs in Lebanon 407
  34. 21 Mapping Change in Local Energy: Community Energy Groups and Their Theory of Change 423
  35. List of Figures 441
  36. List of Tables 443
  37. Index 445
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