(In)visibility in the margins

Covid-19, women entrepreneurs and the need for inclusive recovery

Bibliographic Data

ID12920587
AuthorsGina Grandy (0000-0002-2407-9062, University of Regina, corresponding author), Wendy Cukier (0000-0002-4917-850X, Toronto Metropolitan University), Suzanne Gagnon (0000-0003-1166-7735, University of Manitoba)
Year2020
Volume35
Issue7/8
Pages667-675
Publication date2020-09-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGender in Management An International Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1754-2413 • E-ISSN: 1754-2421
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/gm-07-2020-0207
OpenAlexW3089051047
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited16

Purpose This paper aims to extend Lewis and Simpson’s (2010) work on the complexity of (in)visibility and explores what it means to women’s entrepreneurship in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This piece contributes to the special issue on COVID-19 and the impact on women entrepreneurs. Specifically, it applies an (in)visibility lens to argue that responses to COVID-19 in Canada negatively affect women entrepreneurs disproportionately and that while initiatives such as the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) are threatened, they can also serve as an agitator during this time to advocate for an inclusive recovery approach. Findings Despite progress through such government funded initiatives as the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), which is targeting more than $2bn (Cdn) in investments towards women entrepreneurs, structural inequality and the (in)visibility of women’s entrepreneurship has been amplified during COVID-19. Through a particular understanding of the (in)visibility vortex notion (Lewis and Simpson, 2010), it is concluded the (in)visibility of women entrepreneurs as deeply embedded and that there is a continued need to advocate for a gender and diversity lens, to ensure inclusive recovery that benefits women and diverse entrepreneurs. Originality/value An (in)visibility lens brings an important addition to the literature on women’s entrepreneurship, as well as illuminates the important differences within this broad category, deepening the understanding of these trends and their impact during COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how the complexities of intersectionality are critical to understand, and their recognition can help to drive a clear evidence base, as well as advocacy. The piece call researchers and practitioners alike to consider the question under COVID-19, will these conditions create a new vortex in this domain, or can the work of organizations and researchers position gender and intersectionality in women entrepreneurship as a disrupter for the future

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Diversity (politics · Entrepreneurship · Geography · Government (linguistics · Originality · Pandemic · Political science · Precarity · Public relations · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Visibility · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Family Business Performance and Succession · Gender Studies · Law · Medicine

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