Women Entrepreneurs Making a Difference in the Tourism Sector

Studies on entrepreneurship have long assumed that male and female entrepreneurs are similar. For this reason, the majority of these studies are criticized as gender blind. However, studies in recent years reveal that there are differences between male and female entrepreneurs on many issues such as access to resources, social and cultural pressures, motivation, access to education, roles and expectations that are formed and internalized by the society, especially due to the patriarchal structure. Therefore, it is important to consider women entrepreneurship separately. Women entrepreneurship, which is mostly handled from a neo-liberal perspective, causes social changes such as empowerment and awareness of women, awareness and elimination of gender inequality, as well as economic outcomes. With this approach, the study examines women entrepreneurs operating in the tourism sector, who received the "women entrepreneur award that makes a difference" given by various foundations and banks to support entrepreneurship in Turkey. The aim of the study is to evaluate the important roles played by women entrepreneurs, who are considered as idle labor force, in the development of the national and regional economy. In the study, the observable and measurable values and differences created by women entrepreneurs in the social and cultural structure through their role as "change agents", which have been ignored until now, are revealed. The study emphasizes the necessity of policies to further support women's entrepreneurship for social development.