TRANSGENDER PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: AN EXPLORATION IN THE ASIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

In many walks of life, the transgender people faces marginalization and humiliation. Transgender individuals have found it challenging to fit-in with the mainstream society due to social rejection. Following the enforcement of the Transgender Protection Act of 2018, transgender individuals in Pakistan have experienced a significant surge in support from civil society. In result, the transgender people in small numbers have laid the foundation for the employment or self-employment. So that they can also prove themselves as useful citizen of this country and participating positively in the ongoing economic progress of Pakistan. Many of the transgender people has chosen entrepreneurship as career and started their own business. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the entrepreneurial motivators that transgender entrepreneur experience, prior to launching their business or get self-employed. The fifteen transgender entrepreneur interviewee are included in the study, who had quit dancing, acting, begging and commercial sex work and founded a business or self-employment. The major findings of the grounded theory revealed six significant drivers, cognitive drivers including: personal fulfilment and autonomy, passion for the chosen industry, and desire to make a positive impact. On the other hand, the environmental drivers consisting of financial independence and stability, family background and support, and societal recognition and acceptance. This article expand our understanding of transgender entrepreneurship and also magnify the core forces that make transgender individuals as a useful citizen of this country. The findings of this study will also suggest the role of policymakers, advocacy/support groups, and none governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting entrepreneurship among the transgender community of Pakistan. Finally, the study’s limitations and future direction for potential research were also covered.