Entrepreneurship as a solution: The allure of self-employment for women and minorities

Madeline E. Heilman, Julie J. Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the experiences that women and minorities encounter in organizational settings that result in frustration and discontent with corporate life and their opportunities for advancement. We suggest that such experiences push many of these individuals out of organizations, attracting them to entrepreneurship as an alternate route to both personal and professional success. Our discussion includes an examination of the issues that give rise to these experiences and a consideration of how entrepreneurship appears to provide a solution to them. It also identifies some of the potential pitfalls of entrepreneurship for women and minorities. In our concluding comments, we urge organizations to recognize the unique problems women and minorities face and the necessity of addressing these problems if they are to retain these potentially valuable members of the workforce.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)347-364
Number of pages18
JournalHuman Resource Management Review
Volume13
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Minorities
  • Women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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