Diagnosis of entrepreneurship with a gender focus in the northern zone of Manabí

Abstract

Entrepreneurship with a gender perspective has highlighted persistent inequalities between men and women in the economic sphere, which prompted the development of a diagnostic study in the northern zone of Manabí. The objective was to identify the sociodemographic, economic, and management characteristics of enterprises, as well as gender-differentiated gaps and opportunities. A mixed-method approach with a non-experimental, descriptive design was applied, using surveys administered to entrepreneurs in the Bolívar canton. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and internal reliability assessment. The results indicated that women started their businesses at younger ages, with higher levels of university education, but concentrated in service and commerce sectors, showing low digital participation and facing a double workload due to caregiving responsibilities. Men demonstrated greater sectoral diversification and were less affected by family roles, although they also acknowledged barriers to participating in gender-focused spaces. Based on these findings, an improvement plan was designed using a strategic matrix with actions aimed at reducing structural gaps and strengthening entrepreneurial capacities in an equitable manner. It was concluded that integrating a gender perspective is essential for designing inclusive policies that foster sustainable territorial and economic development.