Environment, Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions of Women in the MENA Region: Evidences from Jordan

Female entrepreneurship is a growing segment in the context of developing countries and has the potential to become a driving force for economic development. However, research suggests that females are less inclined towards entrepreneurship when compared to their male counterparts. This fact is related to a complex mix of causes such as the belief that entrepreneurship is a male domain, certain conditions within the economic and social environment and a general lack of confidence with regards to succeeding in such activities. Middle Eastern societies are predominantly patriarchal in nature. The role of women in society is quite marked and the reluctance of women to take a more decisive engagement in entrepreneurship may be reinforced by conservative, societal traditions. A supportive education system has the potential to act as a catalyst to encourage active female participation in the entrepreneurial domain. A sample of two hundred fifty-four female business students from two universities in Jordan were asked to evaluate various factors within the Jordanian entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the business education they are currently receiving. The results indicated that a strong supportive education system to some extent may reduce the perception of potential barriers for entrepreneurship, but the overall impact can be limited. Conversely, an educational system distant and lacking of supportive and concrete initiatives can deeply affect and worsen the fears of engaging in entrepreneurship amongst female students.