A Sociological Analysis of Non-symbolic and Symbolic Action of Women Social Entrepreneurs: Sequence Narrative Analysis of Women Social Entrepreneurs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Economics and Development Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Islamic Azad, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Technology and Innovation Management, Faculty of Industrial Management, College of Management, University of Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Natural Resources and Desertification, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: The main purpose of the article is to sociologically analyze the non-symbolic and symbolic actions of women social entrepreneurs, which are explained in two contexts: family and social organization using the method of consequential narrative analysis. The intertwining of the narrative concept of social entrepreneur identity is illustrated by the beginning of organization, which is highlighted by new text, new meanings, and social business identity. Identifying the social problem of entrepreneurs is the narrative consequence of non-material actions, which leads to the event of socialization and the event consequence of claiming social entrepreneur. Regardless of gender, women social entrepreneurs are dependent on non-material actions; they tend to start social activities through the values of the accepting society. Therefore, women social entrepreneurs face two non-material actions and symbolic actions, each non-material action is connected to a symbolic action, and the symbolic action arises from the non-material action. Blumer's sociological theory (1936) was used to analyze the non-material and symbolic actions of women entrepreneurs. Using this theory, the basis of socialization of women social entrepreneurs is described from the family context to the initiation of social activity or symbolic action.

Method: The methodology is applied in terms of purpose; and in terms of qualitative data collection - consequential narrative analysis. The study population is all women social entrepreneurs (individual analysis level) who are trying to solve a social problem at the community level; considering that the definition of the study population is broad; for consequential narrative analysis, 3 female social entrepreneurs were selected by purpose sampling method and consequential narrative analysis was conducted according to the 3-step data collection protocol (biographical analysis, 5W1H, and conversation). The data analysis method is based on 3 steps including identifying events; events and consequences over time; and the intertwining of non-material action and symbolic action.

Validity in the qualitative method is based on the validity of interview questions with content validity. The validity protocol in the qualitative method is the validity of interview questions; after the initial interview pilot, the interview questions were validated. In the meantime, the interview questions were reviewed and approved again by academic experts and social entrepreneurs.

Conclusion: According to the consequential narrative analysis method, the intertwining of non-material action and symbolic action of women social entrepreneurs was analyzed. In this study, the non-material action of women social entrepreneurs is described as including relaxation and sociability, which is intertwined with the beginning of the social organization and the previous (primary) job, and this intertwining leads to the identification of the social problem as a symbolic action. The research emphasized the continuity and intertwining of non-symbolic and symbolic action of women social entrepreneurs; also, this research analyzed the consequential narrative in terms of events from non-material action to symbolic action of women social entrepreneurs, which shows us that the events and consequences of events for women social entrepreneurs are not accidental but are revived in terms of their family background.

Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, non-material action, symbolic action, women social entrepreneurs

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Entrepreneurship Development
Volume 18, Issue 2
July 2025
Pages 81-107

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