Everyday entrepreneurship among women in Northern Ghana: A practice perspective

Abstract

This article explores everyday entrepreneurship among women in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana. It uses Schatzki’s theory of practice in studying how entrepreneurship is accomplished. In identifying a number of distinct practices – imprecise measurement; imprecise recordkeeping; timekeeping; transpositional resourcing; praying; and employing, adopting, and supporting family – their connections and consequences are analyzed. The nexuses of practices creates social orders whereby entrepreneurs “take one day at a time” and harmonize entrepreneurial and family life. The article contributes insight into issues that have received little attention in the entrepreneurship literature, including women’s entrepreneurship in areas of developing countries that are experiencing extreme poverty and how practices facilitate and constrain its enactment. It concludes by discussing the research implications.