Identity Construction of Pakistani Female Entrepreneurs in Religious Framework: An Interplay of Sociocultural and Religious Factors

Abstract

This article focuses on the identity construction of Pakistani female entrepreneurs as an interplay of religion, culture and entrepreneurial context. We contribute to theory development on how in a Pakistani context the Islamic values and Pakistani cultural values shape the entrepreneurial identity of the women entrepreneurs through an intersectional analysis. We draw on five in-depth interviews of women entrepreneurs to illustrate how the women entrepreneurs execute their ventures and carry their entrepreneurial identity while carrying a blend of Islamic values and Pakistani cultural values. Pakistani women entrepreneurs employ the Islamic norms and values that are particularly practised by the family as a boundary, however, the cultural norms sometimes overweight the Islamic values in construction of identity. There is an evidence for negotiating process that acts as an enabler to make space for individualism, honour and entrepreneurship. In order to resist the rigid cultural interpretation of behavioural norms, various cultural, religious and familial identities are crafted to expand the boundaries of what is allowed. This enables them to bank on the Islamic values that enable them to be economically active without violating religious boundaries. Our study contributes to studies on entrepreneurship by showing how these female entrepreneurs gain agency at the crossroads of gender country context and religion.