A Contextual Process Model of Work-Life Balance Negotiation among Female Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Work-life issues for women entrepreneurs are not just about the competing demands of work and family, but also a matter of working in a male dominated industry. Gendered socio-cultural norms, institutional structures, industry expectations and the constant challenge to gain legitimacy in the entrepreneurial ecosystem are part of their experiences. While work-life balance is a topic that has received a large amount of attention in entrepreneurship research, existing literature has largely taken a variable-oriented perspective on the concept, focusing on the end state of work-life balance and little attention is paid to the processes women engage in to manage multiple roles in a developing country setting. In an attempt to fill this gap, the present study examines the lived experiences of 29 female entrepreneurs in industries that are considered male-dominated in the city of Lahore, in Pakistan. The study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) guided by the paradigm of Interpretivism with an aim of analyzing in-depth semi-structured interview data. The results show that work-life balance is not a fixed and final state, but a recursive, contextually situated negotiation process that consists of five dimensions: contextual conditions, competing role expectations, adapting negotiations practices, reflective meaning making and entrepreneurial outcomes. The priorities, roles, and personal conceptions of balance were constantly redefined by participants as they experienced changes in their respective personal, entrepreneurial, and institutional lives. Based on these findings, the study proposes the Contextual Process Model of Work-life Balance Negotiation (CPM-WLBN), which builds on the concept of Role Theory and Gendered Organization Theory to provide an understanding of the interaction between structural conditions and the individual around the course of women's entrepreneurial careers. The study broadens the entrepreneurship and work–life balance literature and provides insights for policy makers, entrepreneurial support organizations, and an initiative designed to build resilience in entrepreneurs, and enriches it with practical implications.