Päivi Karhunen

Between Business and Byt: Experiences of Women Entrepreneurs in Contemporary Russia

Abstract This article contributes to the study of womens entrepreneurship in transition economies by examining Russian self-employed womens experiences and interpretations of gender in the context of entrepreneurship. It traces how gender articulates the opportunities for and the constraints on entrepreneurial activities in Russian society. As such, this article engages in the theoretical discussion of gendered patterns of entrepreneurship. The article employs a qualitative methodology and analyses semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs conducted in St Petersburg and in two towns in the Republic of Karelia during the period 2005–2006. The respondents represent small and medium-sized enterprises mainly in production, retail trade and services.