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VOL. 13, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Gendered family roles and entrepreneurial support: A sociological analysis of women entrepreneurs in Varanasi
Authors
Nishu Soni
Abstract
Women’s entrepreneurship in India is deeply shaped by family
structures, gender norms, and socio-cultural expectations that influence
women’s autonomy, mobility, and access to resources. This study investigates
how gendered family roles, support systems, and patriarchal power structures
shape the entrepreneurial experiences of 342 women entrepreneurs in Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh. Drawing on the family embeddedness perspective, social cognitive
theory, cultural theory, and concepts of social embeddedness. The findings
demonstrate that the family operates as a dual institution that both empowers
women through essential support and simultaneously constrains them through
gendered norms, limited mobility, and unequal domestic labour burdens. The
study contributes new empirical evidence from a traditional urban context that
remains underrepresented in Indian MSME scholarship. Policy recommendations
emphasize family-inclusive entrepreneurship programs, gender-sensitive
training, improved childcare and institutional support, and structural reforms
aimed at enhancing women’s independence and entrepreneurial agency.
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Pages:23-29
How to cite this article:
Nishu Soni "Gendered family roles and entrepreneurial support: A sociological analysis of women entrepreneurs in Varanasi". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 13, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 23-29
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