Abstract:
This study expands on current knowledge through how female entrepreneurs form
and develop their networks in the Sri Lankan context. It adopts social construction-
ism philosophy and narrative design to explore the female entrepreneurs’ networking
behaviour. Thematic analysis is used to understand the life stories of fourteen women
entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. Findings suggest that female entrepreneurs are
likely to rely on more informal recruitment methods and informal training practices.
They have strong relationships with local communities, but they focus on customers
beyond the locals. Seasonality within tourism has emphasised tourism literature due
to its disruptive effect on economic transactions. However, less of the literature has
examined the social effects of seasonality, which is where this study can contribute by
exploring how gender roles related to social and domestic responsibilities are renegoti-
ated during the low and high seasons when tourism entrepreneurs re-adjust to new
time-demand realities. Nevertheless, the narrative research design is not widely used
in the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this article adds to the entrepreneurial networking
knowledge by analysing stories about female entrepreneurs’ experiences and social
constructionist perspectives.
