Female entrepreneurship and structural gender barriers: empirical evidence from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70219/mby-262026-442Keywords:
female entrepreneurship, gender perspective, structural barriers, local economic development, public policyAbstract
This article analyzes the structural gender barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, and their relationship with local economic development. Based on a non-experimental, cross-sectional quantitative approach, a questionnaire was administered to 51 women entrepreneurs in the municipality of Ahome. Results show that 82.4% of participants have experienced obstacles directly linked to their gender condition, with limited access to financing being the most prevalent barrier (44%), followed by gender stereotypes (24%) and difficulty balancing work and family life (22%). Additionally, 70.6% perceive an unequal distribution of resources and opportunities compared to male entrepreneurs, while only 21.6% are aware of specific support programs for women. The analysis is grounded in gender theory (Butler, 1990; Benería, 2003), the women's economic empowerment framework, and international references from organizations such as UN Women, ILO, and OECD. It is concluded that the economic empowerment of women requires not only individual interventions but also the transformation of institutional and cultural structures that perpetuate inequality. Public policy recommendations with a gender perspective are proposed to reduce these gaps in semi-urban contexts in northwestern Mexico.
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