Trabalho por conta própria: mulheres empreendendo na informalidade

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has been recognized as a driving force for global economic and social development. While many studies highlight the advantages of formal entrepreneurship, informality is often associated with challenges, particularly in the context of female entrepreneurship. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding whether informality in entrepreneurship arises from necessity or is perceived as an opportunity. In light of these questions, the need emerges to explore informal entrepreneurship and its influence on female entrepreneurship through the following research question: How does informality relate to opportunity and necessity in female entrepreneurship? The general objective of this dissertation is to analyze whether informality in female entrepreneurship is related to necessity or, albeit rarely, to opportunity. The specific objectives are defined as follows: a) to map women entrepreneurs operating informally in the city of Santa Isabel; b) to identify the reasons why women entrepreneurs do not formalize their businesses; c) to identify, from the perspective of public sector managers, the reasons for the lack of formalization among local female entrepreneurs; d) to differentiate the reasons for informal entrepreneurship driven by opportunity and by necessity. The study adopted a qualitative method with a descriptive and exploratory approach. Data were collected through interviews supported by a semi-structured script. The data were categorized using Atlas.ti v.24 software, specialized in qualitative research, and analyzed using content analysis techniques (Bardin, 2011). The study contributed to a broader understanding of the challenges faced by self-employed female entrepreneurs. These challenges were classified into categories such as limited access to financial resources, logistical difficulties, time management issues, bureaucratic hurdles for formalization, and lack of adequate support. On the other hand, the identified coping strategies include resilience, creativity, the use of digital platforms for business promotion, pursuit of training, and flexibility in organizing activities. These strategies underscore the ability of female entrepreneurs to adapt to adversities. Based on this knowledge, future studies can delve deeper into the impacts of public policies aimed at supporting female entrepreneurship, especially in the self-employment context. Based on the results obtained, new areas of investigation can be explored, such as analyzing the impact of public policies promoting formalization and the effectiveness of training programs. Additionally, it would be interesting to explore alternatives for supporting informal, self-employed female entrepreneurs.