Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 22 Issue 1

Volume XXII Issue I Version I 20 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals C The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women Entrepreneurs: An Analysis from Socio-Economic Perspective in Rangpur City Corporation, Bangladesh borders, and spreading misery on an unparalleled scale [17]. A worldwide socio-economic impasse has been formed, forcing the majority of the people to isolate inside their homes, while the remainder of the population has been engaged in unequal internecine fight against it [16] . Women have less social protection than males. Women have an even worse capacity to withstand economic shocks than males [18]. This study is based on data for Rangpur City Corporation, Bangladesh. Rangpur City Corporation Arena has a bright prospect for women entrepreneurship as labor is still relatively cheap and communications with other parts of the country are very good. Hence, despite considerable productive and efficient human resources, women entrepreneurs in Rangpur City Corporation Arena are facing multi- dimensional social and economic constraints due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This study desires to identify the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 on women entrepreneurs in Rangpur City Corporation Arena, Bangladesh. II. O bjectives of the S tudy a) Broad Objective of the study Despite the importance of women’s entrepreneurship, little research has been focused on the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic on women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. The main purpose of this study is to identify the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women entrepreneurs in Rangpur City Corporation, Bangladesh, in line with their problems and prospects. b) Specific Objectives of the study The specific objectives of this study are: • To identify the problems regarding women entrepreneurship during the pandemic • To identify the socio-economic barriers and obstacles women entrepreneurs have experienced during the Covid-19 Pandemic • To identify the gendered socio-economic obstacles women entrepreneurs have faced during the Covid- 19 Pandemic • To identify the position and situation of women entrepreneurs in family and social life, including their economic contribution and decision making pattern in the family during the pandemic. III. B ackground of the S tudy Bangladesh is a developing country in the South Asian subcontinent. It is a resource-constrained and overcrowded country with a highly stratified society where services and opportunities are defined by gender, class, financial status and location [19]. Without a doubt, Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs lag behind in comparison to their male counterparts in terms of economic engagement, leadership, and empowerment (Hoque et al., 2020). Women entrepreneurs face significant challenges, such as difficulty in obtaining loans and start-up capital, a lack of formal support (such as supportive public policies, access to financial institutions, and professional training programs), and limitations on their movement and opportunity to connect and expand their businesses [2]. Women have limited access to and use of skill-training programs offered by several ministries and NGOs [20]. Bangladesh is one, among the countries most afflicted by the pandemic [15]. What the Covid-19 has done that it aggravates an already challenging situation [1]. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on enterprises worldwide, especially in Bangladesh [13]. Almost any business in any field may now experience revenue loss on a regular basis (Rogers et al., 2020; Vagal et al., 2020) due to the COVID-19 pandemic [23]. It has impacted businesses of all sizes and industries, but smaller enterprises, such as micro, small, and medium enterprises, have been struck most severely [13]. Orders were withdrawn, and stock keeps increasing. Supply networks were interrupted, and a lack of raw materials in the local market caused many people to go to neighboring cities for supplies following the lockdown. Business expenses increased as a result of rising travel costs to deliver the products or services [2]. Many of these enterprises are experiencing significant growth decreases (Mohapatra, 2021). A lot of small enterprises were on the verge of going out of business [24]. The COVI D-19 pandemic has caused severe socioeconomic problems across the world, with notably negative consequences [25], has also had a profound impact on women's economic stability [26]. Women have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the world; a shocking 87 percent of female entrepreneurs believe they have been negatively impacted [27]. Bangladesh has been rated last among 58 economies in the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs for 2020, indicating that it is one of the most difficult countries for women to start a business [28]. The index examines how women in business are making progress throughout the world, highlighting the socioeconomic elements that help and hinder their success, and assigning a rating to the 58 economies studied [1]. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have harmed women entrepreneurs' mental health. Some entrepreneurs who fail may realize that entrepreneurship is not for them, but we believe that those who persevere will have developed methods to manage with high levels of stress [29]. Frustration, loneliness, and concerns about the future are likely to have resulted from the confinement (Kritikos et al., 2020), these are also risk factors for mental illnesses of women entrepreneurs (Banerjee & Rai, 2020). Since the schools are closed