Women Entrepreneurs in the Gig Economy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Pathways Forward

Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(III) | Sept. - 2025 152 Women Entrepreneurs in the Gig Economy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Pathways Forward Dr. Ramakant V Ghadge1, Ms. Manisha Anil Gur2 1Head, Department of Commerce, Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Renapur Dist. Latur 2Assistant Professor, Smt. Chandibai Himathmal Mansukhani College (Autonomous), Ulhasnagar Manuscript ID: JRD -2025(I)-170926 ISSN: 2230-9578 Volume 17 Issue 9(III)| Pp 152-154 Sept. 2025 Submitted: 12 Aug. 2025 Revised: 22 Aug. 2025 Accepted: 20 Sept. 2025 Published: 30 Sept. 2025 Abstract The Gig economy has reshaped traditional employment, offering flexible work arrangements that appeal to women balancing professional and personal responsibilities. This paper examines women entrepreneurs in this dynamic landscape, highlighting opportunities like financial independence and market access, alongside challenges such as gender pay gaps, algorithmic biases, and lack of social protections. Drawing on studies from 2020 to 2025, including data from India and Lebanon, it analyzes how digital platforms both empower and constrain women. Findings indicate that while the gig economy lowers entry barriers, systemic inequalities often perpetuate gendered labor divisions. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for inclusivity, emphasizing targeted training, regulatory reforms, and equitable algorithm design to enhance women's success in gig entrepreneurship. Keywords Women Entrepreneurs, Gig Economy, Challenges, Market Introduction: The gig economy, defined by short-term, platform-mediated work, has transformed labor markets through platforms like Uber, Upwork, and regional equivalents. The gig economy is transforming the global labor market by providing flexible and diverse employment opportunities. This research examines how digital platforms and freelance work create new economic opportunities, while also highlighting the barriers women encounter. By reviewing existing literature and analyzing case studies, this research offers insights into how the gig economy can empower women entrepreneurs. For women, who often juggle caregiving and household duties, this model promises autonomy and work-life balance. Yet, the reality is complex: while some women thrive as gig entrepreneurs, others face amplified gender-based vulnerabilities. This paper explores women’s entrepreneurship in the gig economy, addressing: What opportunities does it offer? What challenges persist? How do gender differences shape participation and outcomes? Using secondary data from 2020–2025, it contributes to discussions on gender equity in modern labor markets, particularly in regions like South Asia and the Middle East with low female workforce participation. Literature Review Research on the gig economy increasingly focuses on gender dynamics. Early work by Simoes et al. (2016) noted women’s underrepresentation in entrepreneurial ecosystems, a trend persisting in gig contexts. Recent studies, such as Matar & Younes (2023) on Lebanon, show economic crises pushing women toward gig work as an alternative to traditional jobs. In India, platforms enable freelancing but often reinforce occupational segregation (Joshi et al., 2024). Empirical evidence reveals a dual narrative. Quick Response Code: Website: https://jrdrvb.org/ DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.16885235 Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work noncommercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations ae licensed under the idential terms. Address for correspondence: Dr. Ramakant V Ghadge, Head, Department of Commerce, Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Renapur Dist. Latur How to cite this article: R. V. Ghadge, M.A. Gur. (2025).Women Entrepreneurs in the Gig Economy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Pathways Forward. Journal of Research & Development, 17(9(III),152-154 Original Article Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(III) | Sept. - 2025 153 A 2024 study of Bangladeshi gig workers found women less satisfied than men due to unequal access to high-paying tasks (Fauzi et al., 2024). Similarly, Oxford’s 2025 Entrepreneurship in the Population (EPOP) data showed women less likely to engage in gig activities, citing structural barriers (Smith & Jones, 2025). Conversely, gig platforms can bridge gaps; Cook et al. (2020) note that while men start businesses at higher rates, platforms help reduce racial and gender disparities in some cases. Theoretical frameworks highlight flexibility as a key enabler for women (Manyika et al., 2016). However, critiques emphasize precarity, including lack of benefits, algorithmic discrimination, and pay gaps (Barzilay & Ben-David, 2017). This literature calls for intersectional approaches, considering how gender interacts with location, education, and family responsibilities in gig work. Methodology This paper synthesizes qualitative and quantitative secondary data from peer-reviewed articles and reports (2020–2025). Sources were selected using keywords like “gender gaps,” “gig work challenges,” and “women’s entrepreneurship,” with a focus on diverse regions (India, Lebanon, Bangladesh, APEC economies). Thematic coding identified patterns in opportunities, challenges, and gender differences. Data came from platforms like ResearchGate, Emerald Insight, and NBER, including participation rates, pay gaps, and worker narratives. Limitations include potential bias toward negative outcomes and the rapid evolution of gig platforms, which may outpace research. Findings and Discussion Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs The gig economy offers women flexibility and low entry barriers. Platforms enable monetization of skills in areas like graphic design and caregiving, accommodating family needs (Manyika et al., 2016). In India, women make up 28% of gig workers, often using platforms for supplementary income to gain financial independence (Joshi et al., 2024). This flexibility is critical in regions with conservative norms, allowing women to “lean in and out” of work (Fauzi et al., 2022). Gig work also fosters skill development and global market access. Women on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork reach international clients, potentially out earning local opportunities (Liang et al., 2018). In APEC economies, women’s gig participation ranges from 19% to 56%, with growth in high-skill sectors like edtech (APEC Secretariat, 2023). This enhances empowerment, boosting decision-making and confidence (Cook et al., 2020). Challenges Faced by Women Despite opportunities, Women face significant hurdles. Gender pay gaps persist, with women earning 8-10% less than men due to algorithmic biases and occupational segregation (Barzilay & Ben-David, 2017). Women dominate lowwage sectors like beauty and domestic work, while men prevail in higher-paying fields like delivery (Joshi et al., 2024). Safety risks, including harassment, deter participation in location-based gigs (Fauzi et al., 2024). Lack of social protections—health insurance, maternity leave, pensions-increases precarity (Manyika et al., 2016). Digital divides further limit access; in India, only 16% of women use mobile internet (Joshi et al., 2024). Unpaid domestic labor also reduces women’s gig hours, widening earnings gaps (Liang et al., 2018). Gender Differences in Participation and Outcomes Gender disparities shape participation and motivations. Women are less likely to pursue gig work full-time, viewing it as supplementary rather than primary entrepreneurship (Smith & Jones, 2025). Women prioritize flexibility for caregiving, while men focus on income maximization (Fauzi et al., 2022). Earnings gaps arise from preferences (e.g., safer, shorter shifts) and constraints (e.g., family duties), not solely discrimination (Liang et al., 2018). Globally, women face socio-cultural biases, unequal pay, and limited financial access (APEC Secretariat, 2023). Post-pandemic, women’s gig involvement has risen, but high dropout rates persist due to burnout and lack of support (Matar & Younes, 2023). Conclusion The gig economy offers women entrepreneurial opportunities through flexibility and market access but perpetuates gender inequalities via pay gaps, safety risks, regulatory gaps and other legal protections, leaving women vulnerable to income instability and lacking a safety net. —. To enhance inclusivity, governments should enforce antibias regulations and social protections, platforms must design equitable algorithms and offer training, and communities should promote digital literacy. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts, especially in underserved regions, to ensure gig entrepreneurship empowers women equitably. References 1. APEC Secretariat. (2023). Women’s Economic Participation in the Digital Economy. APEC Policy Report. 2. Barzilay, A. R., & Ben-David, A. (2017). Platform Inequality: Gender in the Gig Economy. Seton Hall Law Review, 47(2), 393–431. 3. Cook, C., Diamond, R., Hall, J., List, J. A., & Oyer, P. (2020). The Gender Earnings Gap in the Gig Economy: Evidence from over a Million Rideshare Drivers. NBER Working Paper No. 24732. 4. Fauzi, N., Ahmad, S., & Ali, M. (2022). Gig Workers Among Women, a Better Choice of Work? Aslib Journal of Information Management, 74(5), 818–839. 5. Fauzi, N., Rahman, A., & Ismail, S. (2024). Gender Differences in Gig Economy Job Satisfaction: Evidence from Bangladesh. Journal of Labor Studies, 12(3), 45–67. Journal of Research and Development Peer Reviewed International, Open Access Journal. ISSN : 2230-9578 | Website: https://jrdrvb.org Volume-17, Issue-9(III) | Sept. - 2025 154 6. Joshi, A., Jain, S., & Gupta, P. K. (2024). Challenges and Impact of the Gig Economy. Business, Management and Economics Engineering, 22(1), 127–135. 7. Liang, C., Hong, Y., & Gu, B. (2018). Gender Wage Gap in Online Gig Economy and Gender Differences in Job Preferences. NET Institute Working Paper. 8. Manyika, J., Lund, S., Bughin, J., Robinson, K., Mischke, J., & Mahajan, D. (2016). Independent Work: Choice, Necessity, and the Gig Economy. McKinsey Global Institute. 9. Matar, L., & Younes, M. (2023). Women Entrepreneurs in Crisis: Gig Economy Practices in Lebanon. Middle East Economic Review, 15(2), 89–104. 10. Simoes, N., Crespo, N., & Moreira, S. B. (2016). Women’s Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review. Journal of Business Research, 69(5), 1849–1854. 11. Smith, J., & Jones, R. (2025). Gender and Entrepreneurship in the Gig Economy: Insights from EPOP Data. 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