Development of independently managed rural women's entrepreneurship through networking

The social environment of rural women is prone to restrictions by predetermined or traditional social relationships, such as regional and blood relationships. In addition, women are likely to undergo changes in their social relationships following marriage, making social relationships of their own choosing (networks) all the more important. By leveraging these networks, rural women can find opportunities to initiate or expand entrepreneurial activities. In fact, among the increasing number of independently managed entrepreneurships by rural women, there are instances where restrictive forces encountered in the course of entrepreneurial pursuits were offset by these networks. This study analyzed the significance and roles of networks that independent rural women entrepreneurs participate in or create in the course of their activities, based on the example set by the Shonai region in Yamagata Prefecture. The analysis categorized social relationships of rural women into Prevailing (predetermined and traditional social relationships) and Self-Determined (self-selected social relationships, networks), and also looked at government support. As a result, the following four points became apparent. First, there were dissimilarities in the social relationships of rural women entrepreneurs over the course of the entrepreneurship. Specifically, even in instances that did not involve relocation due to marriage, life history and farm management policies dictated differences in the degree of involvement in Prevailing relationships. Second, there were differences in the social relationship roles (nature) involved in each stage of entrepreneurship. These were categorized into five classes with six types: Information Exchange, Learning (Basic and Brush-up), Farmers' Partnership, Cross-Sector Partnership, and Regional Revitalization. All five classes were involved in the case of Self-Determined social relationships. Information Exchange and Learning are personal aspects and Farmers' Partnership and Cross-Sector Partnership are business aspects, and when extrapolated, they intersect at Regional Revitalization, indicating one possible goal within the context of the social relationship roles played by rural women entrepreneurs. From these, we can state that one possible direction for modern rural women entrepreneurship is regional revitalization. Third, educating women about the process of learning entrepreneurial activities and linking up women entrepreneurs in the same region are two examples of the role governments can play. Fourth, a network is important to women entrepreneurs, and by creating a network, they can seek further development and enhancement of their entrepreneurial pursuits.