Women's domestic work and its implications on their informal enterprises

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