Theoretical Frameworks

FEMENA draws on several complementary theoretical frameworks, each offering a different perspective on women's entrepreneurship. The first is the capabilities approach developed by Amartya Sen. This framework emphasizes the real freedoms and opportunities available to individuals to achieve their goals. In the context of women's entrepreneurship, it allows for the analysis not only of the availability of material resources, but also of women's ability to exercise their freedom to choose to create and manage a business.

Institutional theory complements this approach by examining how formal rules (laws, regulations, public policies) and informal rules (social norms, cultural expectations) influence entrepreneurial behavior. It helps to understand why some initiatives fail or succeed depending on the institutional context.

The project also draws on gender and development studies, which examine the structural inequalities and specific constraints women face in the world of work and entrepreneurship. This research highlights how social roles, stereotypes, and cultural expectations can limit or promote women's economic opportunities.

Finally, entrepreneurial ecosystem theory emphasizes the importance of interactions between different actors: institutions, professional networks, investors, mentors, and local communities. It demonstrates that entrepreneurial success depends not only on individual skills but also on the ability to navigate and leverage a supportive entrepreneurial environment.