Despite increased academic attention paid to migration flows in Europe, the gendered nature
of transnational migrant entrepreneurial journeys within the family business context remains
under-researched. We address this gap by investigating how transnational spaces enable
women to challenge the dominant ideas about their roles, and claim legitimacy by developing
branches of their family business abroad. Reporting extensive longitudinal evidence collected
over a seven-year period, we showcase four biographical narratives of women operating
transnational family businesses in the UK, which originated in Eastern Europe. Adopting this
novel longitudinal approach, we provide insights into how these transnational migrant women
entrepreneurs exercise individual agency to overcome structural constraints by developing
strategies which prioritize their own business aspirations without fully sacrificing their family
ties.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
family business; transnational migrant entrepreneurship; transnational
spaces; biographical narratives