Exploring Gender Dynamics and Empowerment in Family Businesses

Abstract

This study explores the gender dynamics landscape of women’s participation and empowerment in family businesses. It focuses on along with Gender Dynamics, Decision-Making Power, Resource Distribution, Recognition and Respect, and Emotional and Social Climate are included. The growing context on gender equality, women in family businesses often raises leadership inclusion, decision-making authority, access to resources, recognition for contributions, and emotional support. The existing studies has identified individual aspects of women’s participation that also leaving structural, relational, and emotional factors on women’s empowerment within family enterprises. It identifies the gap in the underlying dimensions of the key variables by using factor analysis and develop the constructs using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). It analyse how gender dynamics, decision-making power, resource distribution, recognition and respect, and emotional and social climate comprehensively influence women’s engagement, influence, and recognition in family businesses. A sample of 306 family business members was surveyed and results revealed that recognition and decision-making power, significantly impact women’s participation, others, including resource distribution and emotional climate, show moderate effects. In this study identify the importance of equitable practices, transparent resource allocation, collective decision-making, and supportive social environments in enhancing women’s empowerment. From this study provide significant findings on family businesses to promote gender equity, inclusive participation, and strengthen organizational sustainability through a balanced and supportive environment for all family members.