Refugee women as entrepreneurs in Australia

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Abstract

The Stepping Stones to Small Business programme in Australia is appreciated by participants but has shown that entrepreneurship is a problematic concept in the context of women from refugee backgrounds. Starting a small business in Australia is often discussed alongside the risk-taking attributes of entrepreneurs. This characterisation casts entrepreneurship as positive and adventurous, with the promise of rewards. However, some groups in Australia have no choice but to pursue self-employment due to their constrained opportunities in the labour market. Refugee women, in particular, face barriers to being part of the workforce that relate to language, culture, gender and family, and employer attitudes and practices. There are also pull factors that attract refugees to entrepreneurship, such as the allure of financial security and independence, or previous small business experience in their home country. Self-employment may offer the possibility of enhanced professional standing and higher earnings than waged employment, given that migrants work predominantly in lower paid, precarious jobs.

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Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

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About this study

AGE: Adults

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: No impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: Australia

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: Not specified

INTERVENTION: Women's employment intervention

OUTCOME AREA: Employment Attainment

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Multiple Regions

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2016

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