Women Entrepreneurship in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic Opportunities and Risks (The Case of Perm Region, Russia)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the level of development of women's entrepreneurship in the context of the pandemic and the crisis of 2020. The thesis that women's entrepreneurship was most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was verified. The article presents the results of an original focus group interview with female entrepreneurs of the Perm Region (Russia), conducted with the aim of studying their social well-being and adaptation to the conditions of the pandemic. Despite negative assessments of socio-cultural conditions and measures to support women's entrepreneurship in Russia, there is a high adaptability of Russian female entrepreneurs to crisis conditions. Female entrepreneurs find new opportunities for business development, expect the further development of women's business communities and the reduction of gender inequality. Based on the results of the focus group the qualities that contribute to the more successful adaptation of female entrepreneurs to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic were highlighted: the ability to establish and maintain social ties (networking), focus on the social importance of business, flexibility in making new decisions and focus on learning.