Immigrant women entrepreneurs

Perista, Heloísa; Nunes, Janine

Overview

Article

Immigrant women entrepreneurs

Published: 10 November 2011

Heloísa Perista,

Janine Nunes

Gender equality

In March 2010, the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG [1]) published a study (in Portuguese, 6.34Mb PDF) [2] that aimed to increase knowledge about the experiences, features/profiles and strategies of immigrant women entrepreneurs in Portugal. The study explored new forms of work organisation and changes in strategies for the economic and social integration of immigrant women into Portuguese society.[1] http://www.cig.gov.pt/[2] http://www.igualdade.gov.pt/images/stories/documentos/documentacao/publicacoes/Mulheres_Emigrantes_Empreendedoras.pdf

A recent study by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality analysed the experiences, strategies and profiles of immigrant women entrepreneurs in Portugal from three community groups (Portuguese-speaking African countries, Brazil and Eastern Europe). Most immigrant woman entrepreneurs in Portugal are married and 35–44 years-old. More female immigrant entrepreneurs from all three groups were satisfied with their work–life balance than male ones.

About the study

In March 2010, the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) published a study (in Portuguese, 6.34Mb PDF) that aimed to increase knowledge about the experiences, features/profiles and strategies of immigrant women entrepreneurs in Portugal. The study explored new forms of work organisation and changes in strategies for the economic and social integration of immigrant women into Portuguese society.

A survey was conducted among a sample of 450 immigrant entrepreneurs (75% women and 25% men) from three community groups:

Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALPs);
Brazil;
Eastern Europe.

This study is based on the concept of a migrant entrepreneur as:

a foreign-born non-Portuguese citizen;
with or without Portuguese nationality;
working on their own, formally or informally having a business or an independent activity, either as self-employed or as employer;
acting in the formal or informal economy.

Profile of an immigrant woman entrepreneur

Most immigrant women entrepreneurs in Portugal are aged 35–44 years. Most are married, although a considerable percentage of single women appear among those from Brazil and PALPs. The majority have a secondary or professional education, apart from Eastern European women, among whom a higher education level is more common.

The beauty industry and trade, hotels and restaurants are the sectors where most of these women are active.

Key findings

This update focuses on information on women’s independence and work-life balance.

Independence from their husband

Married immigrant women entrepreneurs said they were ‘more satisfied’ with their independence from their husband compared to before they started their own business (Table 1). Women from PALPs tended to be ‘equally satisfied’.

**Table 1: Satisfaction with independence from spouse (%)**
Community group	More satisfied		Equally satisfied		Less satisfied		Dissatisfied
Community group	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
PALPs	26	39.4	36	54.5	3	4.5	1	1.5
Brazil	34	50	28	41.2	6	8.8	0	0
Eastern Europe	43	50	37	43	5	5.8	1	1.2

Source: Malheiros et al, 2010, Table 52

Distribution of housework in households

As in the general population, housework was overwhelmingly dealt with by women.

However, when married immigrant women entrepreneurs earned more than their husbands, they were still responsible for household chores but tended to be less overloaded. This was because housework was delegated to others (family members, maid, etc.) rather than because the husband took responsibility for housework or because tasks were shared more equally between the couple (Table 2).

**Table 2: Distribution of housework**
Income distribution	Entrepreneur		Husband		Both		Other		Total
Income distribution	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%	Total
Woman earns more	38	45	4	5	29	34	14	16	85
Spouse earns more	57	59	2	2	31	32	7	7	97
Earn the same	7	44	0	0	8	50	1	6	16

Source: Malheiros et al, 2010, Table 49

Relationship with children or other dependents

One of the characteristics of female entrepreneurship is the possibility it offers of combining paid work with housework and family responsibilities. Immigrant women entrepreneurs claimed to be more satisfied with the relationship they had with their children or other dependents since becoming self-employed (Table 3).

**Table 3: Relationship with children or other dependents (%)**
Community group	Very satisfied	Equally satisfied	Less satisfied	Dissatisfied
PALPs	50.5	38.7	10.8	0
Brazil	51.2	32.9	14.6	1.2
Eastern Europe	51.6	33.7	12.6	2.1

Source: Malheiros et al, 2010, Table 50

Work–life balance

The balance between family and professional life was given as a reason for satisfaction by immigrant women who had become self-employed. This finding was much less evident among men (Table 4).

**Table 4: Satisfaction with work–life balance**
		Satisfaction
		Yes		No
		No.	%	No.	%
PALPs	Women	39	35.5	71	64.5
PALPs	Men	10	27	27	73
Brazil	Women	39	34.8	73	65.2
Brazil	Men	10	27	27	73
Eastern Europe	Women	29	27.1	78	72.9
Eastern Europe	Men	9	23.7	29	76.3

Source: Malheiros et al, 2010, Table 51

Reference

Malheiros, J., Padilla, B. and Rodrigues, F. (2010), Mulheres imigrantes empreendedoras (6.34Mb PDF) [Immigrant women entrepreneurs], Comissão para a Cidadania e a Igualdade de Género, Lisbon.

Heloísa Perista and Janine Nunes, CESIS

Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.

Eurofound (2011), Immigrant women entrepreneurs, article.