نوع مقاله : مقاله علمی پژوهشی

نویسندگان

• صغری عاشوری ¹
• زهرا میرحسینی ²

¹ کارشناسی ارشد مطالعات زنان و خانواده، دانشگاه الزهرا، تهران، ایران

² استادیار گروه مطالعات زنان و خانواده دانشکده علوم اجتماعی و اقتصاد دانشگاه الزهرا

چکیده

مقاله حاضر مبتنی بر پژوهشی کیفی است که با هدف تحلیل معنای کارآفرینی و فهم چگونگی کنش کارآفرینانه‌ی زنان در شبکه‌ی‌ اجتماعی اینستاگرام انجام شده‌است. بدین منظور با 14 زن کارآفرین که دارای صفحات فعال در اینستاگرام هستند، مصاحبه‌های عمیق صورت‌پذیرفته و سپس داده‌های جمع‌آوری شده با استفاده از روش تحلیل تماتیک مورد تحلیل قرارگرفته است.یافته‌های تحقیق در مجموع دربردارنده سه مضمون فراگیر شامل «اینستاگرام و عرضه توانمندی‌های زنان»؛ «آنلاین شاپ اینستاگرامی متناسب با نقش‌های چندگانه زن»؛ « اینستاگرام بستر نو برای کنش اجتماعی فعالانه زنان» و همچنین هفت مضمون سازمان یافته است که عبارتند از: «فروشگاه اینستاگرامی»؛ «مشتری محوری»؛ «شکوفایی زودبازده»؛ «تعادل شغل با خانواده»؛ «حرکت رو به جلو و در لحظه»؛ «تناسب شغل با شخصیت زنانه»؛ «امکان رشد و بروز خلاقیت زنان» بدست آمد. نتیجه حاصل از این پژوهش نشان داد که فضای مجازی و خصوصا اینستاگرام فضای امن فکری و کنشگرانه‌ی فعال ومنعطفی برای اثرگذاری اجتماعی_اقتصادی زنان کارآفرین پدیدار نموده است که در آن از جذب و تعامل با مشتریان تا اثرگذاری فکری و رفتاری بر مشتری را برای زنان کارآفرین فعال در این سکو فراهم کرده است.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• "زنان"
• "کارآفرینی"
• "آنلاین‌شاپ"
• "فضای مجازی"
• "اینستاگرام"

عنوان مقاله [English]

Analysis of the Meaning of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Cyberspace (Case Study: Instagram)

نویسندگان [English]

• Soghra Ashouri ¹
• Zahra Mirhosseini ²

¹ Master of Women's Studies, Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

چکیده [English]

Abstract
This qualitative research focused on exploring the meaning of entrepreneurship and analyzing how women entrepreneurs operate within the context of the Instagram social network. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 women entrepreneurs, each possessing an active Instagram presence. The collected data underwent thematic analysis, revealing three overarching themes: "(1) Instagram and the presentation of women's skills," "(2) Instagram online shops conducive to women’s multifold roles," and "(3) Instagram as a novel platform for women's expressive societal engagement." Along with the three overarching themes, seven organized themes were recognized: "Instagram shop," "customer-centric approach," "rapid business expansion," "work-life balance," "simultaneous progress and presence," "occupation suitability with feminine character,” and “prospects for women's personal development and creativity.” The findings of this study revealed that the virtual space, particularly Instagram, has established a secure, dynamic, and adaptable intellectual and action-oriented environment for women entrepreneurs to exert a socio-economic impact. Through this platform, women entrepreneurs can effectively attract and connect with customers while shaping their viewpoints and behaviors.
Introduction
Over the course of recent decades, women’s role and participation in economic spheres have seen a significant expansion and diversification. This diversity can be attributed to a host of factors: advancements in technology, the acknowledgement of women's rights for independent socio-economic activities, and the complex challenges arising from their multiple roles within the family, personal, economic, social, and cultural realms. Entrepreneurship is a vital factor in increasing employment and, in turn, a nation's Gross National Product (GNP). This can lead to reduced imports, increased exports, and economic growth. Given these realities, if women are offered opportunities and conditions to participate in entrepreneurial endeavors, they can assume a substantial role in a country's economic progression. Within this framework, the cyberspace, encompassing platforms like Instagram, provides an enabling environment for women's entrepreneurial ventures. It seems that women have, to some extent, leveraging novel platforms such as cyberspace and international and domestic social media, managed to establish a competitive and inventive space for women-owned businesses that operate as online stores. This research seeks to explore and analyze women's entrepreneurship in cyberspace, with a specific focus on Instagram. The significance of this study lies in its potential to shed light on the entrepreneurial experiences of women operating online shops on Instagram. Furthermore, it can aid policymakers in crafting comprehensive and effective policies concerning women and the digital realm, with a particular emphasis on women's entrepreneurship.
Methodology
The primary objective of this research is to undertake a sociological analysis of female university graduates' entrepreneurial activities on Instagram and understand the process through which these entrepreneurial actions emerge and operate on this platform. As such, a qualitative approach and thematic analysis through conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews are considered necessary for this study. The study's population encompasses female university graduates aged between 20 and 50, holding degrees ranging from associates to doctorates. All interviewees have less than 10 years of entrepreneurial experience and fall into the micro or medium category, either being self-employed or employing less than 20 individuals. The inclusion criterion stipulates that each participant has an active Instagram page for their entrepreneurial venture. The interviewed sample demonstrates a notable diversity in various aspects. For instance, this diversity encompasses differing levels of entrepreneurial experience, the relationship between the participants' field of study and their entrepreneurial venture, variations in terms of their business registration status, and distinctions between micro and medium-level businesses. To address the challenge of accessing individuals possessing specific characteristics, a snowball sampling method was utilized to select our interviewees. According to this method, one or more participants who fulfill the research criteria are asked to refer the researcher to others who share similar traits. A total of 14 individuals were interviewed, and theoretical saturation was reached after the 12th interview. To ensure reliability, two additional interviews were conducted, ultimately resulting in a total of 14 participants for this study.
Results:
Based on the analysis of the data collected through the interviews, the research yielded a series of findings that include 45 basic themes, 7 organizing themes, and 3 overarching themes. Below is a tabular representation of the findings:
 




Basic theme


Organizing Theme


Overarching Theme






Officially starting work by creating an Instagram page, finding entrepreneurs through Instagram pages, attracting the attention of economic institutions and news agencies to entrepreneurial activities, production networking, sales networking, marketplace creation networking


Instagram Store


Instagram and the presentation of women’s abilities




Generating ideas through direct messages, learning advertising from Instagram, learning to create sales content from Instagram, providing consulting to others to start a business


Customer-Centric




Excitement from creating, the joy of seeing the final result, the joy of seeing customer satisfaction, the joy of attracting customers and capturing their attention, flexible work, the blossoming of talents, the desire for innovative ideas, the desire for beauty and beautification, earning money and ensuring a happy time for oneself


Rapid Growth


Instagram online shops suitable for women’s multiple roles




Housework and economic activity simultaneously, economic activity while raising children, the emergence and development of children’s talents, family members’ voluntary and joyful participation in entrepreneurship


Work-life balance




Interest in social activities, desire to impact society, not being indifferent to the economy of women, striving to influence the cultural society, striving to be useful in society


Moving Forward and in the Moment


Instagram as a new platform for women’s active social action




Lack of understanding of women’s conditions and identity roles in administrative jobs, striving to prove one’s abilities in administrative centers, the monotony of administrative work, unwillingness to do monotonous work, desire for a change in job, desire to balance multiple roles, desire to regain identity


Opportunity for Women’s Growth and Creativity




Job security, financial independence, skill development, recovery of personal-social-family identity


Job Suitability with Feminine Personality




Conclusion
An examination of the research findings uncovers that female entrepreneurs on Instagram not only prioritize offering superior service to their customers but also express a concern for promoting healthy and value-based living. Moreover, these entrepreneurs do not shy away from imparting their profession to customers who wish to learn, thereby sharing their knowledge to foster the emergence of new entrepreneurial endeavors. This research highlights several vital characteristics of Instagram, as identified by the interviewees, that contribute to the value and advantages of Instagram-based businesses: (1) swiftness in communication, learning, and product delivery; (2) decreased time and capital demands for promoting and introducing the created product; (3) the lasting impact and establishment of entrepreneurship as a trusted reference; and (4) a secure environment for women to conduct significant economic and social activities, all while staying true to their feminine identities.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• Women
• Entrepreneurship
• Online Shop
• Cyberspace
• Instagra