GENDER AS A FACTOR AFFECTING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN IRAN: FOCUSING ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have an important role to play in the development of a country. As so, women's participation in the economy has been proved to be a factor in the development of so-called developed countries. This study intends to study the effect of gender as a factor on women entrepreneurship. To do so, we have reviewed the definition of issues regarding gender in business, entrepreneurship in general, and women entrepreneurship in particular. Also, empirical studies on women entrepreneurship as a factor of higher performance were reviewed. Finally, drawn from prior studies some questions are developed for two in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to put forward some descriptive propositions. The contribution is twofold; one being a review paper clarifies the subject and two getting in touch with the real-world to describe the phenomenon at hand. Limitations and future scope are discussed in the final section.