Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education
Addressing poverty for Caribbean women
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21262873 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Priscilla Bahaw (0000-0003-2339-0999, University of the West Indies), Ayanna Stephens (0009-0006-8178-0724, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, corresponding author), Abede Jawara Mack (0000-0001-5979-486X, St. Francis Xavier University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-09 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Discover Global Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2731-9687 • E-ISSN: 2731-9687 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s44282-025-00162-z |
| OpenAlex | W4409286341 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 50 |
Gendered poverty remains a persistent issue in the Global South, particularly in the Caribbean, where economic activity heavily relies on volatile sectors such as tourism and agriculture, leaving many women unemployed and economically vulnerable. Despite investments in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to address unemployment, existing research inadequately explores how entrepreneurship education (EE) can be integrated into TVET to empower women. Women face distinct challenges, including entrenched gender stereotypes, systemic biases, and limited access to entrepreneurial opportunities, which further hinder their transition from skills training to sustainable self-employment. Adopting an exploratory research design, this perspective paper utilizes an integrated literature review method to synthesize insights from peer-reviewed studies, white papers, and policy documents, advocating for the integration of EE into TVET through a gender-sensitive approach. Two key findings emerged: (1) integrating EE within TVET can equip women with entrepreneurial skills that complement technical training, and (2) gender-sensitive practices, such as flexible curricula, gender sensitized modules, women-led business mentorship programs, women-only cohorts, and institutional support, are critical to achieving these outcomes. We conclude that this dual-focus model offers practical implications for TVET institutions to redesign their programs and collaborate with NPOs and policymakers to provide ongoing support for economically deprived women. By empowering women to transition into self-employment, the approach fosters inclusive economic growth, reduces poverty, and enhances social development. Furthermore, its broader adoption offers a pathway to addressing gender inequalities and promoting entrepreneurship development worldwide
Caribbean region · Economic growth · Economics · Entrepreneurship · Geography · Latin Americans · Political science · Poverty · Vocational education · Women entrepreneurs · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy
The Global South
Literature review as a research methodology
Who they are, and what they do
Fostering future-ready female TVETpreneur talent framework
Overcoming Gender Gaps in Entrepreneurship Education and Training
A critical perspective on TVET teachers’ pedagogical practices
How different theories of development address the relationship between the urban informal economy and poverty in the labour market
The interplay of context and entrepreneurship
Challenging gender norms and practices through women’s entrepreneurship
The gender gap in work–life balance satisfaction across occupations
Sexual orientation at work
The challenges of poverty and social welfare in the Caribbean
Women Are the Breadwinners and Men are the Homemakers
Entrepreneurship Education for Women—European Policy Examples of Neoliberal Feminism
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |