Why should I be an entrepreneur? A feminist perspective on the drivers and motivations of Israeli women entrepreneurs

Purpose This paper aims to examine how the unique Israeli socio-cultural context reflects the factors that motivate women to establish their own businesses. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a qualitative approach based on grounded theory. Two rounds of individual in-depth interviews (32 interviews) were conducted 18–24 months apart with 16 women owners of newly established businesses. Findings The findings reveal women’s entrepreneurial motivations as an evolving process, beginning in the broader labor market until a “misfit” moment triggers their transition to business ownership. Upon entering the business world, these women seek to construct a new reality where they can achieve belonging, express their identities and attain previously unreachable success. While operating within the broader socio-cultural context, this new business environment offers rules more aligned with their aspirations, leading women to develop internal motivations for persisting in entrepreneurship. Originality/value This study expands the knowledge in feminist literature that investigates the motivations of women entrepreneurs in a complex context (Israel), which unlike the Middle East where it is located, adopts Western democratic values of equal rights for all its citizens. Conversely, it also resembles other countries in the region that suffer from gender bias and patriarchal orientation. Finally, it contributes to understanding the drivers and motivations of women entrepreneurs throughout the entrepreneurial journey from a gendered perspective.