Social Entrepreneurship: Gender, Family and Social Relationships in India

<p dir="ltr">This thesis explores the familial dynamics that shape the experiences of female social entrepreneurs in Delhi, India. It explores the enabling and inhibiting relationships within their families and examines how familial capital transformations influence their entrepreneurial journey.</p><p dir="ltr">Employing a qualitative approach, this study delves into the familial relations that serve as pivotal factors in the lives of female social entrepreneurs. Through semi-structured interviews with fifteen female social entrepreneurs, critical discourse analysis is utilised to analyse the data.</p><p dir="ltr">Female social entrepreneurs leverage familial capital to attain cultural, economic, and social capital, fostering their personal growth. The study indicates the transfer of social capital and its critical role in human capital development. With enhanced social capital, female social entrepreneurs pursue financial independence, benefiting both themselves and their communities. Interestingly, many married female entrepreneurs receive support from their mothers-in-law, possibly due to augmented symbolic capital. Despite their financial autonomy, female entrepreneurs seek financial advice from fathers or husbands.</p><p dir="ltr">Patriarchal traditions exhibit signs of weakening, with female entrepreneurs actively participating in household decision-making and challenging societal expectations. Elderly parents find acceptance in daughters' households, while women prioritise education over societal norms, recognizing its significance in elevating social status and achieving financial security.</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis sheds light on the transformative role of familial relationships in empowering female social entrepreneurs and underscores the evolving cultural landscape propelling their success in India. This research contributes to expanding the body of knowledge pertaining to female social entrepreneurs in India. It also gives an understanding of the weakening of patriarchy pertaining to the middle class households in Delhi, India.</p>