Global Journal of Management and Business Research, A: Administration and Management, Volume 23 Issue 9

sector and, more generally, encouraging entre- preneurship. Tunisia is an attractive country, which seeks to develop private initiative and encourage FDI to set up there. Female entrepreneurship is no exception (Félix, 2020; Mharzi and ZERHOUNI, 2021). It has been growing steadily in recent times and has made a major contribution to creating jobs and economic added value (Alomar, 2023). Nevertheless, even Tunisia has seen real progress in terms of gender equality since independence. In reality, social and cultural resistance to women's participation in economic and entrepreneurial activity still persists (Zogning, 2022). Thus, despite legislation that is relatively favourable to women, their participation in active and entrepreneurial life remains limited (Latrous, 2021; Glidja, 2019). The economic, political, legal and socio-cultural environment in Tunisia is certainly undergoing major transitions, and it is up to us to study the situation of women entrepreneurs in order to better circumscribe this issue. Several researchers consider female entrepreneurship to be homogenous (Ben Makhlouf, 2019; Florent Tasso, 2021). For our part, we will explore the different realities of three groups of women entrepreneurs, focusing in particular on their status. We distinguish between women who run a business, women who are self-employed and women in cooperatives (P Paquin, 2021; Himrane, 2019). Through this approach, we will attempt to understand women entrepreneurs in Tunisia, by focusing on their personal situations, on the factors linked to their sectors of activity and on the evolution of society. To do this, we are using a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews with 45 women entrepreneurs (business owners, self- employed women and women cooperators). This research is divided into three parts. The first deals with the existing literature, through which we will discuss women's entrepreneurship and the other position of Tunisian women. In the second part, we present our research methodology, and end by presenting our results and analysing them in the light of the literature. The conclusion will focus on the main scientific and managerial implications of this research. II. L iterature R eview The literature on women's entrepreneurship focuses on the individual characteristics of women entrepreneurs and their businesses, what might motivate them to set up a business, and business strategies related to financing and networking (Oukaci et al., 2019; Bensoula et al., 2021; Avnimelech, 2023). With regard to the individual characteristics of women entrepreneurs, the literature notes that women entrepreneurs are younger than their male counterparts. They are very often married with dependent children (Carrington, 2004; Légaré, 2000; St-Cyr, 2002; Gergess, 2021). According to St-Cyr, Hountondji and Beaudoin (2003), their levels of education are generally higher than those of men, although according to Itani, Sidani and Baalbaki (2011), they lack managerial skills. Roomi, Harrison and Beaumont-Kerridge (2009) and Tijari and Smouni (2023) add that they also lack the basic training to run a business and are somewhat unaware of market conditions. Furthermore, Al-Alak and Al-Haddad (2010); Cornet and Constantinidis (2004); Lee-Gosselin, Housieaux and Villeneuve (2010), argue that SMEs run by women are smaller in size, in terms of financial indicators and number of employees, than those run by men. For Rooney, Lero, Korabik and Whitehead (2003); Watson (2006); MEYABE et al, (2022) and Sarr and Fall (2021), the growth rate of these SMEs is fairly low, particularly for some sectors of activity. According to the International Council of Women Entrepreneurs (Doubogan, 2019; Zogning, 2021), women entre- preneurs are mainly active in the health, tourism and distribution sectors. In all cases, the choice of sector and size is a personal one and generally depends on the potential entrepreneur's experience and financial constraints. It also depends, according to Cornet and Constantinidis (2004); Fairlie and Robb, (2009), on the construction of the project around a traditional vision of women's skills, knowledge and social role (Amadou et al., 2022; Hobad et al., 2023). With regard to these women's business strategies, the literature refers to the difficulties they face in obtaining finance (Coleman and Robb, 2009; Welter, 2007; Alomar, 2023; Dagot, 2019). Generally speaking, and according to Cohn and Coleman (2005); Kwong, Evans and Thompson (2012) and Logan (2012) and Yen (2022), women use their own resources to finance the launch of their businesses, rather than using banks and similar institutions, because of the small size of their businesses and the sector in which they operate (Tijari and Smouni, 2023; Ouattara, 2020). Furthermore, Hampton, Cooper and McGowan (2009) argue that these women are less integrated into traditional business networks, which are generally created by and for men. Instead, these women entrepreneurs choose female business networks (Constantinidis, 2010; Hamouda, Henry and Johnston, 2003; Berrached and Aouel, 2022), generally made up of members of their close circle, family and friends (Bogren et al, 2013; Hampton, Cooper and McGowan, 2009; Jacob et al., 2023). Moreover, for De Vita, Mari and Poggesi (2014), education, experience and social background influence their choices and behaviour. In any case, these women may suffer discriminatory attitudes at work (Saidi, 2003; Rachdi, 2006; Boussetta, 2011; Tounes, 2003; MEYABE et al., 2022; Sarr and Fall, 2021). Admittedly, the literature has mainly focused on the individual strategies of these women entrepreneurs Challenges and Prospects for Women Entrepreneurs in Tunisia Global Journal of Management and Business Research ( A ) XXIII Issue IX Version I Year 2023 40 © 2023 Global Journals