'Entrepreneurship can result from necessity as well as opportunity, and women entrepreneurs pursue goals beyond economic gains.' 'There is no gender differential in drivers of business expansion. The small scale of business does not inhibit women-owned micro enterprises from expanding.' In Women Entrepreneurship in the Indian Middle Class, Unni, Yadav, Naik and Dutta explore entrepreneurship using a gender and class lens from multidisciplinary perspectives. They examine the evolution of the field and uncover factors impacting women's participation in entrepreneurship. Defining entrepreneurship broadly to include not just 'new economic activity' but operations of all economic enterprises, the authors attempt to understand: What motivates women in India to operate enterprises ranging from small and medium to large enterprises?

This thesis focuses on a group of self-described, ordinary middle-class women in the city of Mysore who, impelled by economic circumstances and desires for self-fulfillment and greater control over their fives, chose to become entrepreneurs in a social context characterized by ambivalent attitudes toward this move. Life-story narratives and intergenerational conversations recorded during 18 months of fieldwork elucidate both women's subjective experiences, and the ways in which they are active agents in transformational processes.

This paper deals with the socio-cultural factors profile of women entrepreneur and what is the impact of socio-cultural values on the entrepreneurial performance of Indian middle class women entrepreneur. The socio-cultural factors taken up for the study include information about their age, marital status, educational and training level, financial and business experience, type of family and type of organization. The effect of these factors on entrepreneurial activity is worth studying because entrepreneurship development is considered an important link to an overall economic growth of a nation through its positive impact on economic development especially at the grassroots. Entrepreneurship among women is a recent trend. In a developing country like India the environment is favorable for women to become entrepreneur but on the contrary there are some problems which restrict their entrepreneurial performance like socio-cultural problems. This paper aims to study the social acceptance of women entrepreneur and the relationship between age, education and social acceptance of women entrepreneur.

In Indian context.

The starting point for the book is the low economic activity of women in India, and hence, both governmental and NGO-based activities to raise the level of women’s participation to Indian economy, and through that, the increase in women’s economic and social independence. The book focuses on elementary and important issues of entrepreneurship and women in any economy. Prof. Anne Kovalainen School of Economics University of Turku, Finland The book focuses on three NGOs and their activities in enhancing and promoting women’s entrepreneurial activities in three different areas in India. The empirical material consists of interview materials as well as background data and reports, national level statistics and other figures that are used to describe the Indian situation in general, and specifically those conditions from where women’s entrepreneurial activities arise, such as gender equality and legislation frameworks. The book is very important, not only for the women’s entrepreneurship and economic activity but for the Indian society at large. Prof. Paola Villa Department of Economics University of Trento, Italy This book is a product of extensive and intensive research. The book aptly highlights and proves the importance of NGOs in promoting women entrepreneurship. Given the rigors of research methodology, the book will also serve as a model for future research on the related dimensions of women entrepreneurship. Prof. Italo Trevisan Department of Economics and Management University of Trento, Italy Women’s empowerment in India remains a daunting task for governmental and non-governmental organizations alike. Given the importance of economic empowerment of women, this study provides an overview of the entrepreneurship as a means to economic empowerment of Indian women. Dr. Suman Sharma Officer on Special Duty(OSD) Dayal Singh College (Evening) University of Delhi

Study conducted at Faridabad, Gurgaon and Hisar districts of Haryana, India.

The study of entrepreneurship, in spite of its origins in the 19th century, has been rather limited. The study of women entrepreneurs, in particular, is of a relatively recent origin. It was probably felt that the contributions of women entrepreneurs to the economy were not significant enough to warrant independent study. With the entry of women into the economic world, thing have charged. The boundaries that hitherto sharply defined the gender roles have lost their significance to some extent; the time has come to try and determine gender-based differences, if any, in the entire process of entrepreneurship and small business development. In India, the study of women's enterprise has long straddled the two perspectives of entrepreneurship and women's integration into the mainstream economic activity. Participation of Indian women in direct economic activity is a relatively recent phenomenon, except in the cases of the rural and the urban poor. Entrepreneurship and small business are attractive and practicable for both men and women. Entrepreneurship is additionally attractive to women, as it enhances their self-esteem and personal freedom, while offering the opportunity to balance family life and work. However, in the context of their traditional socialisation, they have to resolve many personal and social issues before becoming entrepreneurs. This book is an attempt to define the demographic profile of the typical middle-income urban woman entrepreneurs. It examines the issue of priority of their business. There is a dearth of details in entrepreneurship literature with regard to the managerial/marketing activities and orientations and the impact of enterprise training. It is all the more so in the context of Indian women entrepreneurs. Apart from the exploration of the women entrepreneurs' networks and their impact on the business, this book has tried to assess their contributions to Indian economy. More than anything else, the book has attempted to bring in a managerial rather than a sociological orientation to their efforts. It is hoped that book will be of great value to those who are interested in the study of specific segments of entrepreneurs.