A systematic literature review of Chinese entrepreneurship: utilizing feminist theory with implications for public policy

ABSTRACT Entrepreneurship in China is a recent phenomenon, whereby self-employment was formally legalized in the 1980s. Despite the growing significance of Chinese entrepreneurship, literature is without consistent contextual analysis. Our study is the first to systematically review Chinese entrepreneurship by using a mixed-methods analysis through combining quantitative Leximancer data-mining software with a traditional qualitative content analysis. We analysed 2,572 relevant publications and provide 11 key themes within Chinese entrepreneurship coinciding with the introduction of China’s Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation policy campaign. Next, we extracted 126 publications specific to women and analysed the thematic results using post-structural feminist theorizing, we challenge the hegemonic normalization of gender order created within Chinese entrepreneurship literature and the othering of women entrepreneurs. Our results indicated several limitations and new opportunities to refine the focus of future studies utilizing feminist theory with implications for public policy and entrepreneurship. We believe by understanding a longitudinal view of Chinese entrepreneurship through a post-structural feminist lens, scholars can adopt research strategies to reduce potential marginalization in Chinese entrepreneurship theory and practice.