Structural Equation Modelling of Barriers and Enablers for Women Entrepreneurs of Southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in regional and national economic development, yet its growth is constrained by multiple structural, socio-cultural, and institutional barriers. This study applies Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to examine the barriers and enablers influencing women entrepreneurs in Southern Rajasthan. Drawing on data from 612 women entrepreneurs across the districts of Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, and Chittorgarh, this paper develops and validates a multidimensional framework integrating socio-cultural barriers, financial constraints, institutional support, psychological enablers, and technological adaptability. The measurement model demonstrated strong psychometric reliability (α > 0.80, CR > 0.70, AVE > 0.50) and satisfactory model fit indices (χ²/df = 2.41, CFI = 0.948, RMSEA = 0.056), confirming the robustness of the proposed framework. Structural path analysis revealed that socio-cultural (β = –0.237, p < 0.01), economic (β = –0.186, p < 0.01), institutional (β = –0.203, p < 0.01), and psychological barriers (β = –0.175, p < 0.05) exerted significant negative influences on entrepreneurial outcomes. Conversely, institutional (β = 0.298, p < 0.001), socio-cultural (β = 0.267, p < 0.001), and psychological enablers (β = 0.285, p < 0.001) had strong positive effects, with mediation analysis confirming that enablers partially mitigate the adverse effects of barriers (β = 0.192, p < 0.01). The study suggested that while women in Southern Rajasthan demonstrate high resilience and adaptability, systemic challenges related to financial access, institutional inefficiencies, and social norms continue to constrain their entrepreneurial growth. However, enablers such as education, self-efficacy, digital literacy, and institutional support substantially enhance their business performance and sustainability.