Introduction
Entrepreneurship occupies an essential place in the modern world because it provides society with many advantages. In particular, this activity is associated with corporate social responsibility and results in the emergence of new products and markets, contributing to people’s overall wealth (Tiba et al., 2019). Simultaneously, the phenomenon under analysis can help the world address the existing environmental challenges and improve the future for the whole world (Doh et al., 2019). That is why it is not a surprise that numerous individuals throughout the globe become engaged in entrepreneurship activities to achieve personal gains and contribute to a better life in society.
Research Topic
As a rule, the entrepreneurial sphere provides individuals with particular opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, globalization and the use of digital technologies result in the fact that more and more people start doing their business online (Nambisan et al., 2019). This factor demonstrates that it is easier for people to find customers, market their products or services, and distribute them. On the other hand, the sphere is associated with some challenges, and increased competition, low economic status of the nation, and others can be suitable examples. Even though these characteristic features are universal, every country has its own regional peculiarities. Thus, the proposal is to focus on challenges and opportunities accompanying female entrepreneurship in China.
Project Rationale
The given proposal focuses on entrepreneurship in China because this process deserves specific attention. The rationale behind this statement is that this Asian country “has recognized entrepreneurship as one of the key driving forces of sustained economic development” (He et al., 2019, p. 563). That is why it is logical to assume that Chinese individuals face many opportunities and advantages when they decide to start their own business. However, it is impossible to state that this sphere is entirely free from possible issues. In particular, it can be challenging to register a non-governmental organization in China, and this situation is often subject to corruption scandals (Warnecke, 2018). The majority of scientific articles focus on men, meaning that female entrepreneurs can be underrepresented in the research field.
Research Questions
According to the information above, the given proposal offers to answer two research questions. Question 1: Why do women in China become engaged in entrepreneurship? Question 2: How does the Chinese context provide female entrepreneurs with multiple challenges? The answers will present a comprehensive picture that women in China face when they decide to launch their own businesses. This information will help identify the most significant barriers and develop an understanding that they should be addressed.
Literature Review
Female Entrepreneurship Opportunities
The topic of entrepreneurship in China has received sufficient attention in the research field. In the 1980s, the government decided to promote an entrepreneurial boom in the country, and the following three decades witnessed the economic development of China (He et al., 2019). The government decision was not the only factor that contributed to the improvement. According to Zheng and Du (2020), promoting conditions included human capital spillover, market size, and mega-urban agglomerations offering developed infrastructures. This statement denotes that beginning entrepreneurs had easy access to the required resources to start businesses.
Simultaneously, additional internal processes facilitated the rise of entrepreneurship. In particular, China is witnessing a massive migration of people from rural to urban areas (Liu et al., 2019). This state of affairs results in the fact that the number of rural entrepreneurs surpasses that of urban ones (Liu et al., 2019). Simultaneously, Ji et al. (2021) clarify that individuals from rural areas tend to involve in the activity to address the urban-rural income gap. This situation occurs because cities provide individuals with better human capital, social resources, and others. One can also admit that women are typically involved in business to gain reputation and recognition in society (Colaco & Hans, 2018). These positive aspects can make women get involved in doing business.
Female Entrepreneurship Challenges
However, it is also worth admitting that the Chinese environment implies some challenges. Li et al. (2019) mention that the Chinese market has issues regarding fostering information irrespective of significant advancements in the research and development sphere. Some experts admit that there exists a high barrier of entry for new participants (Fan & Zhang, 2017). Cooker and Xiao (2021) stipulate that women in China face social, individual, and organizational difficulties, while other scientists found problems finding and recruiting employees (Zhu et al., 2019). Ramadani et al. (2017) report that female entrepreneurs often face succession decision-making issues. Finally, Cai et al. (2018) stipulate that credit constraints are significant issues that do not allow people to start their businesses. This information demonstrates that the entrepreneurship sector in China has both opportunities and challenges.
Even though the topic under consideration has faced sufficient attention in the scientific field, it is still possible to find a knowledge gap. In particular, the research area misses a study that systematically and comprehensively analyzes female entrepreneurs’ experience in Chinese business. It seems reasonable to contact the individuals and identify how they explain their performance first hand. That is why the given proposal offers to conduct such a study to fill the gap.
Research Design
The given proposal advocates for using a qualitative methodology relying on semi-structured interviews. The rationale behind this suggestion is that the study by Shastri et al. (2019) successfully relied on this method to assess the issue of female entrepreneurship. In addition to that, many other scholars use semi-structured interviews when they focus on women in business (Cavada et al., 2017; Ennis, 2019; Yunis et al., 2018). The following paragraphs will present additional arguments behind choosing the specific methodology.
In the beginning, it is necessary to justify that qualitative methodology is appropriate. Rutberg and Bouikidis (2018) stipulate that this method is applied when it is required to investigate an issue thoroughly. Cadena-Iñiguez et al. (2017) advocate for using qualitative research when one needs to understand people in their frameworks and assess them in a humanist manner. The selected methodological framework is also appropriate because it requires relatively few participants to generate valuable results (Queirós et al., 2017). Consequently, a qualitative study seems reasonable to investigate the issue of female entrepreneurship.
Simultaneously, it is reasonable to comment on whether primary or secondary data should be used. Primary data seems appropriate because this approach allows for collecting the most relevant information for a specific study. Numerous scholars admit that this approach results in significant benefits when applied to working with human subjects (Nayak & Narayan, 2019; Haruna, 2020). It is also rational to admit that research involving secondary data can result in the fact that scholars can miss important information (Weston et al., 2019). That is why there is sufficient reasoning behind relying on primary data analysis.
Sampling and Access Strategy
Population and sampling are the following areas of this discussion. The suggested topic reveals that the study is going to focus on female entrepreneurs, and the report by Mastercard (2019) shows that over 25% of all the businesses in China are owned by women (p. 16). This figure demonstrates that the proposal focuses on a rather extensive population. It is necessary to select a specific sample, and a purposive sampling approach seems appropriate. This strategy demonstrates that researchers should select individuals that meet the specific criteria to be included in a study (Sharma, 2017; Ames et al., 2019). Bhardwaj (2019) stipulates that this approach is advantageous because it focuses on individuals having relevant experience regarding the topic under analysis. Turhan (2019) admits that the sample size in qualitative research should be sufficiently big to analyze all the important aspects, while Queirós et al. (2017) stipulate that semi-structured interviews may need fewer participants. The given proposal offers to recruit at least 20 participants. The researchers will find the contact information of female entrepreneurs online and send them an invitation to participate in the study via e-mail or social media.
Data Collection
The following step is to represent a specific data collection method. According to Hawkins (2018), semi-structured interviews are among the most popular instruments in qualitative research. That is why the given proposal advocates for using this approach. This strategy introduces flexibility because, in addition to asking a few prepared questions, researchers are free to use an individualized approach to pose additional inquiries. Thus, one can state that this data collection strategy implies many benefits, including flexibility, getting deeper analysis, the necessity to recruit fewer participants, and others (Adhabi & Anozie, 2017; Queirós et al., 2017). The examples of predetermined questions are as follows: What made you start your own business? How did you feel when you became an entrepreneur? What challenges did entrepreneurship bring to you? Depending on the answers, the researchers will be free to ask additional questions to uncover the participants’ experiences.
Theoretical Perspective
The given proposal follows an interpretive philosophical perspective, which explains the basics of the research process. According to Darby et al. (2019), this paradigm focuses on the individual experiences of people because various persons can differently assess the same objects or phenomena. That is why the interpretive perspective allows for identifying context-dependent data that is necessary to understand the phenomenon or process under analysis. As for the given proposal, it follows the paradigm to analyze female entrepreneurs’ experiences within the Chinese context.
Ethical Issues
Now, it is reasonable to comment on possible ethical issues. An obligatory condition is to collect participants’ personal information and their informed consent (Manti & Licari, 2018; Capron, 2018). It is possible to receive this information by asking the individuals to complete appropriate forms. The informed consent will reveal the topic of the proposed study so that the participants will know what they are expected to discuss. In addition to that, the study participants can be subject to various privacy and confidentiality risks because statements about corruption or other issues can have adverse consequences for them. That is why it is reasonable to sign a confidentiality agreement where it will be explained what personal information may be revealed (Clark-Kazak, 2017). This step will result in the fact that the participants will understand that their personal details will be protected, which will make them more willing to participate in research.
Conclusion
The present proposal offers to focus on the issue of female entrepreneurship in China. The rationale behind this suggestion is that women are a growing group of individuals that actively enter the business world, and the review of relevant literature supports the idea. Academic interest refers to what opportunities and challenges affect female entrepreneurs, and a qualitative methodology seems appropriate to find this information. Semi-structured interviews should be organized involving women who started their own businesses to identify and systematize their experiences in the sphere.
References
Adhabi, E., & Anozie, C. B. (2017). Literature review for the type of interview in qualitative research.International Journal of Education, 9(3), 86-97.
Ames, H., Glenton, C., & Lewin, S. (2019). Purposive sampling in a qualitative evidence synthesis: A worked example from a synthesis on parental perceptions of vaccination communication. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 19(1), 1-9.
Bhardwaj, P. (2019). Types of sampling in research. Journal of the Practice of Cardiovascular Sciences, 5(3), 157.
Cadena-Iñiguez, P., Rendón-Medel, R., Aguilar-Ávila, J., Salinas-Cruz, E., Cruz-Morales, F. D. R. D. L., & Sangerman-Jarquín, D. M. (2017). Quantitative methods, qualitative methods or combination of research: An approach in the social sciences. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas, 8(7), 1603-1617.
Cai, D., Song, Q., Ma, S., Dong, Y., & Xu, Q. (2018). The relationship between credit constraints and household entrepreneurship in China. International Review of Economics & Finance, 58, 246-258.
Capron, A. M. (2018). Where did informed consent for research come from?Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics, 46(1), 12-29.
Cavada, M. C., Bobek, V., & Macek, A. (2017). Motivation factors for female entrepreneurship in Mexico.Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 5(3), 133-148.
Clark-Kazak, C. (2017). Ethical considerations: Research with people in situations of forced migration.Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees/Refuge, 33(2), 11-17.
Colaco, V., & Hans, V. B. (2018). Women entrepreneurship in India – Changes and challenges. Sahyadri Journal of Management, 2(2), 1-12.
Cooke, F. L., & Xiao, M. (2021). Women entrepreneurship in China: Where are we now and where are we heading. Human Resource Development International, 24(1), 104-121.
Darby, J. L., Fugate, B. S., & Murray, J. B. (2019). Interpretive research: A complementary approach to seeking knowledge in supply chain management.The International Journal of Logistics Management, 30(2), 395-413.
Doh, J. P., Tashman, P., & Benischke, M. H. (2019). Adapting to grand environmental challenges through collective entrepreneurship. Academy of Management Perspectives, 33(4), 450-468.
Ennis, C. A. (2019). The gendered complexities of promoting female entrepreneurship in the Gulf.New Political Economy, 24(3), 365-384.
Fan, Z., & Zhang, R. (2017). Financial inclusion, entry barriers, and entrepreneurship: Evidence from China. Sustainability, 9, 203.
Haruna, M. O. (2020). Analyzing electoral misconduct: The case of 2019 general elections in Gombe State, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 18(2), 133-145. Web.
Hawkins, J. E. (2018). The practical utility and suitability of email interviews in qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 23(2).
He, C., Lu, J., & Qian, H. (2019). Entrepreneurship in China. Small Business Economics, 52(3), 563-572.
Ji, X., Wang, K., Xu, H., & Li, M. (2021). Has digital financial inclusion narrowed the urban-rural income gap: The role of entrepreneurship in China.Sustainability, 13(15), 8292.
Li, M., He, L., & Zhao, Y. (2020). The triple helix system and regional entrepreneurship in China.Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 32(7-8), 508-530.
Liu, C. Y., Ye, L., & Feng, B. (2019). Migrant entrepreneurship in China: Entrepreneurial transition and firm performance. Small Business Economics, 52(3), 681-696.
Manti, S., & Licari, A. (2018). How to obtain informed consent for research.Breathe, 14(2), 145-152.
Mastercard. (2019). Mastercard index of women entrepreneurs 2019 [PDF document]. Web.
Nambisan, S., Wright, M., & Feldman, M. (2019). The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges, and key themes. Research Policy, 48(8), 103773.
Nayak, M. S. D. P., & Narayan, K. A. (2019). Strengths and weaknesses of online surveys. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 24(5), 31-38. Web.
Queirós, A., Faria, D., & Almeida, F. (2017). Strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative research methods. European Journal of Education Studies, 3(9), 369-387.
Ramadani, V., Dana, L.-P., Sadiku-Dushi, N., Ratten, V., & Welsh, D. H. B. (2017). Decision-making challenges of women entrepreneurship in family business succession process. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 25(04), 411-439.
Rutberg, S., & Bouikidis, C. D. (2018). Focusing on the fundamentals: A simplistic differentiation between qualitative and quantitative research. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 45(2), 209-213.
Sharma, G. (2017). Pros and cons of different sampling techniques. International Journal of Applied Research, 3(7), 749-752.
Shastri, S., Shastri, S., & Pareek, A. (2019). Motivations and challenges of women entrepreneurs: Experiences of small businesses in Jaipur city of Rajasthan.International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 39(5/6), 338-355.
Tiba, S., van Rijnsoever, F. J., & Hekkert, M. P. (2019). Firms with benefits: A systematic review of responsible entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility literature.Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 26(2), 265-284.
Turhan, N. S. (2019). Qualitative research designs: Which one is the best for your research? European Journal of Special Education Research, 4(2), 124-136. Web.
Warnecke, T. (2018). Social entrepreneurship in China: Driving institutional change. Journal of Economic Issues, 52(2), 368-377.
Weston, S. J., Ritchie, S. J., Rohrer, J. M., & Przybylski, A. K. (2019). Recommendations for increasing the transparency of analysis of pre-existing data sets.Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 2(3), 214-227.
Yunis, M. S., Hashim, H., & Anderson, A. R. (2018). Enablers and constraints of female entrepreneurship in Khyber Pukhtunkhawa, Pakistan: Institutional and feminist perspectives.Sustainability, 11(1).
Zheng, S., & Du, R. (2020). How does urban agglomeration integration promote entrepreneurship in China? Evidence from regional human capital spillovers and market integration. Cities, 97, 102529.
Zhu, L., Kara, O., & Zhu, X. (2019). A comparative study of women entrepreneurship in transitional economies: The case of China and Vietnam.Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 11(1), 66-80.