ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the experiences and ambitions of small, purposively selected samples of women business owners from two countries – the United States (US) and Czech Republic (CR) – by drawing on contextual embeddedness and intersectional perspectives. The US and CR exhibit interesting contrasts in the visibility and variety of racial and ethnic relations. Due to restrictive mobility under state socialism, the CR is largely homogeneous in terms of race/ethnicity. The chapter analyses that a gender-aware approach alone is insufficient for understanding women's entrepreneurship. Creating entrepreneurship opportunities for women can improve women's economic and social position. Entrepreneurship also offered an alternative for women who faced barriers to career advancement or the discrimination associated with social location. The insecurity of entrepreneurship makes it difficult for mothers to grow successful businesses and thereby reinforces gender business gaps and overall gender inequalities. The chapter demonstrates the utility of a combined comparative contextual/intersectional analysis.
