ASIAN CONFERENCE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP (ACE 2018)

Transcription

1 ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON THE ONE BELT ONE ROAD March 22-23, 2018 NilaiSprings Resort Hotel Nilai, Malaysia

2 GENDER IMBALANCE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF ENTREPRENEURS IN MALAYSIA MS.AMIENURUL FAIDZAN BINTI MOHDAMIN1 Lecturer, Department of Management & Marketing, Faculty of Business, Nilai University, Nilai No 1, Persiaran Universiti, Putra Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia MS. NOR NAZERANAH OMAR DIN 2 Senior Lecturer, Department of Management & Marketing, Faculty of Business, Nilai University, Nilai No 1, Persiaran Universiti, Putra Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. nornazeranah@nilai.edu.my MS. CAROLINE ANTHONY 3 Lecturer, Department of Management & Marketing, Faculty of Business, Nilai University, Nilai No 1, Persiaran Universiti, Putra Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. caroline_anthony@nilai.edu.my

3 1.0 INTRODUCTION Malaysian government supports and encourages the growth of entrepreneurship as a mechanism to improve their income distribution and to reshape the economic structure( Abdullah,1999). Governmental initiatives to develop Malaysian s interest on entrepreneurship are Vision 2020, New Economic Policy ( ), new economic model and National Development Policy ( ) (Othman et al., 2012). Alam et al. (2011) claims that no doubt the importance of entrepreneurial activities were given, female growth is still significantly lower than men and the percentage of women entering new ventures is still small. 3

4 INTRODUCTION These claims are supporter as Malaysian females makes half of the Malaysian workforce population, but only 15% of the Malaysian females owns their own business venture Rozy (2009). 4

5 RESEARCH QUESTION Why there is a gender imbalance of entrepreneurs in Malaysia and how to encourage women (housewife, single mother and interested woman to be entrepreneurs) to venture into entrepreneurship that has been dominated by men in Malaysia? 5

6 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE This study is to elucidate the multiple levels of platform for women s to explore entrepreneurship in maledominated settings and eliminates the gender imbalance of entrepreneurs in Malaysia. 6

7 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW MEN utilize the human capital engage in a challenging manner WOMEN utilize the human capital inversely engage in a more routinized leaning process profit maximization aims to achieve their intrinsic goals Source: Ekanem, 2015 ASIAN CONFERENCE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP 7

8 ISSUES FACED BY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Issues Cultural barriers (typical Gender Stereotype) Discussion Limitation of cultural values (Mordi et al, 2010; Piacentini,2013). Women behaviour ; conservative, prudence and attentiveness (example household duties as core responsibilities). Cultural barriers (Gender Preferences in business conduct) Sons are preferred over daughters - Competencies (Jasani, 2002; Salim and Ghadas (2012). Men outperform women risk takers, aggressive, larger network and high perseverance to face competition November, 2017 (ACE 2017) 8

9 Issues Discussion Lack of Spousal Support Stress on women (ranked 16 th in the world) as spouses hardly help out in household chores and childcare after work (Malaysian Labor Force Survey Report, 2011b). Gender Inequality Women low paid and own 15% of business enterprise (Kelly, et al., 2011). Loan approvals (assess capability of only 0.2 with the scale of 0 full and 1 impossible) (Asia-Pacific Human Development Report, 2010). Scrutinized over lack of business education November, 2017 (ACE 2017) 9

10 Issues Discussion Lack of Confidence Rate of perceived capabilities (46% - Thailand; 49% - Pakistan) lower than men (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Global Report, 2012). Lower perception of business venture intention as compared to men, as fear of failure and lack of entrepreneurial skills) (Kelly, et al., 2011). Weak Social and Business Networking Women believe to have weak network (Guest Author, 2011). Women's network is smaller and less diverse than men (women draws more on their personal relationships, ie: family than other sources) (Dhaliwal, 2000; Teoh and Chong, 2008) November, 2017 (ACE 2017) 10

11 Issues Domestic Help and Home Based Childcare Discussion USD 330,000 (RM1.1 million) is the estimation cost to raise a child (New Strait Times, 2013). Heavy reliance on domestic help, especially Indonesia maids but not at ease as increasing number of child abuse cases by those maids (The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Project, 2013). Few Laws to Support Working Family Singapore parents are entitled 6 days per year for child care leave and/ infant care leave until the child turns 7 years old (Under Part IX of the Employment Act and Part III of the Child Development Co- Savings Act) (Ministry of Manpower, 2013) -- not same situation as most countries November, 2017 (ACE 2017) 11

12 THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK Cultural Barriers Lack of spousal support Gender inequality Lack of confident Weak social and business networking Domestic Help & Home Based Child Care Few laws to support working family Gender Imbalance Motivational factors: Government /SME subsidiaries ; Personality, Characteristics and Education; Networking and ICT 12

13 3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Sampling and Data Collection An inductive approach has been chosen as our research design. 3.2 Data analysis Through exploratory method, this study carried out a secondary research in exploring why there is a gender imbalance of entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Secondary data is the analysis and synthesis of primary research that was compiled at a previous date. 13

14 4.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS According to Syed, Mohd. Fauzi & NorAsiah (2011), the percentage of women being involved in entrepreneurial venture is still considered small. In Malaysia, with an estimation of 10.8 million workforce (cited by Emily Tan, 2009) women takes up only 37%, and in regards to entrepreneurial jobs, women are less than the men. To further elaborate, Malaysian women comprises of 50% of the total population, but only a small percentage of 15% own their business enterprises (Rozy, 2009; Syed, Zizah & Fauzi, 2012). 14

15 According to the latest census conducted by the SME Corp Malaysia Website (2018), from the 907, 065 active operational SMEs, 20.6% are now owned by women as compared to in the year 2012, where from the 645,136 actively operational SMEs, only 127, 091(19.7%) are owned by women (Hamzah, 2012). 15

16 4.0 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS Issues: Cultural barriers (typical Gender Stereotype) Results: Cultural norms of women in family labor practices as major restriction for women to venture into business in Malaysia (The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Project, 2013). Cultural barriers (Gender Preferences in business conduct) In Malaysia, sons are preferred over daughters in all races, especially the Malaysia Chinese (Jasani, 2002; Salim and Ghadas (2012). 16

17 Issues: Results: Lack of Spousal Support Malaysian women entrepreneurs spends an average of 50.2 hours on work per week in 2012 as compared to 47 hours spent in 2011 ( increase of 1.4 hours) ( Malaysia Labor Force Survey Report, 2012b). Work family conflict. Gender Inequality In Malaysia, women only owns 15% of the business enterprises (Kelly, et al., 2011). Loan approval challenge - Malaysian women entrepreneurs is capable to access only 0.2 banks loans ( within the scale of 0 full and 1 impossible) as compared to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Philippines and Myanmar with full bank loan access (Centre for Development and Population Activities, 2009; Teoh and Chong, 2008). 17

18 Issues: Results: Lack of Confidence In Malaysia, perceived capabilities of operating business is only 31%, low percentage as compared to Thailand (46%) and Pakistan (49%) ( Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Global Report, 2012). Malaysian women entrepreneurs have merely 13% of entrepreneurial intention, still low though increased by 2.6% compared to 4.4% in 2009 (Xavier, et al., 2013). Weak Social and Business Networking Malaysian women tend to have weaker network skills and they are less likely to venture into entrepreneurship as they lack personal contact with other entrepreneurs as compared to male entrepreneurs (Kelly et al., 2013). 18

19 Issues: Domestic Help and Home Based Childcare Results: Expensive to raise a child in Malaysia (RM 1.1 million) domestic help is required but women lack of ease as increasing cases of childcare abuses (The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Project, 2013). Few Laws to Support Working Family Fewer governmental support by Malaysian government to ease the burden of women entrepreneurs, especially the single mothers (Ministry of Manpower, 2013). 19

20 6.0 CONCLUSION Overall, our exploratory research reveals that lack of spousal support, minimal governmental support and funding, cultural barriers, women lack of confidence and gender inequalities are very significant that has led to the gender imbalance of women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. 20

21 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME Ministry Of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD) targets to enhance women participation in entrepreneurship via some entrepreneurial programmes, which includes: Single Mother Skill Incubator (I-KIT), Women Entrepreneurs Incubators (I-KeuNita), Women Capacity Development Program, Women Entrepreneur Launching Grant, and Women Taxi Program, (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia) have provided skill trainings and entrepreneurship programmes to more than 3,000 women under the 2010 budget (Malaysia website, 2010). Teman 1Azam (Companion with 1Resolution) provided a grant of RM4.7 million (USD1.5 million) to 946 Malaysian women entrepreneurs (Bernama, 2010). 21

22 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES Provide training and workshop to develop entrepreneurial skills. There are: Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) - Women Fisherman Group Project (KUNITA). Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) -Women Exporters Development Program (WEDP). Perbadanan Nasional Berhad - Women/Graduate Franchise Program. 22

23 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS UNBIASED FUNDING PERSONALITY, CHARACTERISTICS AND EDUCATION NETWORKING AND ICT 23

24 Thank you!! 24