Gendered Entrepreneurship and Copreneurial Success: Investigating Traditional Gender Norms in South West Nigeria’s Informal Economy

This research investigates the effects of traditional gender roles on copreneurial success in the informal economy in South West Nigeria. The research uses Gender Role Theory to examine how these entrenched socio-cultural beliefs influence role complementarity, decision-making processes, access to resources, and overall business performance by entrepreneurial couples. The study used a descriptive correlational research design and analysed data from 400 copreneurs across 5 urban locations. Analysis from regression and correlation modes of analysis suggested that gender roles, patriarchal beliefs and male-dominated economic structures both impact and prevent copreneurial success. Traditional gender roles were found to be the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial success highlighting the power of traditional gender roles in defining authority, to reinforce recognition and mobilization of reserves in co-owned enterprises. Although many of the respondents stated that they coordinated their decision-making and divided roles equally, the majority of respondents still reported disempowerment based on unequal cultural expectations. Ultimately, the research calls for gender responsive policy interventions that will account for the actors operating in the informal economy, and leave room for equal forms of entrepreneurship that are beneficial to livelihoods. This research contributes to the discussion of entrepreneurship by focusing more on lived experiences and advocating for change at the structural level to achieve equal forms of participation in informal economies.