Opportunity Pursuit for Homemakers: How Fear of Failure, Technological Anxiety, and Virtual Communities Shape Online Gig Work Intention

The marginalization of vulnerable women groups like homemakers in employment has been evident for many years. Recent technological advancements provide favourable opportunities in the form of online gig occupations that can support the empowerment of homemakers and increase their involvement in the labour market. However, when deciding to ride the wave of the gig economy, homemakers often face inhibitors, such as fear of failure and technological anxiety. This study investigates how such factors influence homemakers’ intention to undertake online gig work. This study also seeks to examine the role of the virtual community as a moderating variable. A sample of 112 homemakers in a community group called Ibu Punya Mimpi was collected and further analyzed with partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This study shows that fear of failure and technological anxiety negatively influence online gig work intention. Moreover, interestingly, a sense of virtual community (SoVC) does not moderate the relationship between fear of failure and technological anxiety with online gig work intention. This study contributes to the existing literature in the emerging field of the gig economy, providing new insights and practical implications for community leaders and women empowerment agencies.