Entrepreneurial motivations among female university youth in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

To successfully target potential women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, a better understanding of their entrepreneurial motivations is needed. In this study, we used economic, human development, and social learning perspectives to explore the entrepreneurial motivations among female university youth in Saudi Arabia and formulated three hypotheses on the gender differences in these motivations. We conducted a survey among undergraduate students at King Saud University in Spring'2010 (n = 856) and tested our hypotheses using analysis of variance (chi-square tests and t-tests). Consistent with research on female entrepreneurs around the world, our results indicate that female university youth in Saudi Arabia are more likely than men to start an entrepreneurial venture out of necessity, whereas men are more likely to have a financial success motivation. At the same time, and in contrast to findings from studies on entrepreneurial motivations in the context of Western Europe and the USA, young Saudi university women report a narrower range of entrepreneurial motivations, compared to men. The implications of this exploratory study point to the need for initiatives specifically focused at young women in order to increase their confidence that entrepreneurship is a viable route to accomplish a broad range of career reasons.

Keywords:

• Saudi Arabia
• entrepreneurial motivations
• women entrepreneurs
• university youth
• social learning
• human development

JEL Classification:

• L26
• J16
• C12

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wafa N. Almobaireek

Wafa N. ALMOBAIREEK (Ph.D in Business, Nottingham University, UK) is an Associate Professor of Marketing at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, and Director of The Institute of Prince Salman for Entrepreneurship (IPSE) in KSU. Research and teaching interests include marketing, small businesses, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Almobaireek is an author of a number of books in the area of small businesses and Entrepreneurship. She is, currently, working on a series of studies and projects on Entrepreneurship for IPSE.

Tatiana S. Manolova

Tatiana S. MANOLOVA (DBA, Boston University) is an Associate Professor of Management at Bentley University, USA. Research and teaching interests include strategic management (competitive strategies for new and small companies), international entrepreneurship, and management in emerging economies. She is the author of over 35 scholarly articles and book chapters and is currently affiliated with Diana International, which explores growth strategies of women business-owners worldwide.