Systemic challenges, adaptive strategies and entrepreneurial archetypes of women entrepreneurs in developing countries

Purpose In developing countries, women's entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in poverty alleviation, economic development and social empowerment, yet it remains constrained by structural and gendered barriers. This study analyzes empirical insights to provide an integrated, dynamic understanding of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs (WEs) in developing contexts and the strategies they employ to overcome them. Design/methodology/approach Through a systematic review of 84 peer-reviewed papers on WEs in developing countries, we map key theoretical approaches, methodological trends, contextual features and main findings. Findings The review reveals that the challenges span across three levels: micro (e.g. psychological insecurities and family expectations), meso (e.g. limited networks and market volatility), and macro (e.g. institutional bottlenecks and policy mismatches). In response, WEs exhibit evolving forms of agency and resilience, conceptualized through four archetypes: the Constrained-Resilience Entrepreneur, who copes with restrictive norms through psychological endurance; the Adaptive-Networking Entrepreneur, who leverages informal cooperation and social learning; the Legitimization-Oriented Entrepreneur, who strategically seeks institutional validation and formal recognition; and the Transformative-Influence Entrepreneur, who channels entrepreneurial success into collective empowerment and structural change. Originality/value The study offers a novel analytical lens by introducing a dynamic, multi-level framework linking structural challenges to evolving forms of entrepreneurial agency. By framing resilience as an iterative process embodied in evolving entrepreneurial postures, it advances beyond static classifications. The four archetypes not only mirror and counteract structural challenges but also illuminate pathways through which WEs transition from coping within limitations to reshaping them, and providing deeper insight into the temporal, relational and transformative dimensions of women's entrepreneurship under adversity.