Abstract:
Globally, women’s gender roles are a barrier to women’s participation in economic activities.
Against this background, this study assesses how women’s domestic work impact their informal
enterprises in Hlotse. The study used qualitative research methods to collect data, specifically
interviews, which involved fifteen participants and open-ended questionnaires for twenty-five
participants. The study found that a combination of limited time, restricted access to resources,
and societal norms place significant barriers on women in handcraft businesses, limit women’s
potential to participate in handcrafts businesses. Women have restricted hours to dedicate to their
businesses due to the demands of childcare, this limitation is a barrier to productivity, it reduces
women’s ability to fully engage in handcraft businesses and opportunities for the growth of the
business. The study concludes that women’s participation handcraft businesses is largely limited
by domestic responsibilities such as housework and childcare. The study therefore recommends
that the policy makers should implement policies with a focus on women in handcraft businesses
to address barriers they face in trying to balance between domestic work and handcraft businesses
