Racial Capitalism and Entrepreneurship: An Intersectional Feminist Labour Market Perspective on UK Self-Employment

Martinez Dy, Angela; Jayawarna, Dilani; Marlow, Susan

Abstract

This article explains entrepreneurial activity patterns in the United Kingdom labour market using theories of racial capitalism and intersectional feminism. Using UK Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey data 2018–2019 and employing probit modelling techniques on employment modes, self-employment types and work arrangements among differing groups, we investigate inequality in self-employment within and between socio-structural groupings of race, class and gender. We find that those belonging to non-dominant gender, race and socio-economic class groupings experience an intersecting set of entrepreneurial penalties, enhancing understanding of the ways multiple social hierarchies interact in self-employment patterns. This robust quantitative evidence challenges contemporary debates, policy and practice regarding the potential for entrepreneurship to offer viable income generation opportunities by those on the socio-economic margins.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 4, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 16, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 16, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 5, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Journal: Sociology
• Print ISSN: 0038-0385
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-8684
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385241228444
• Keywords: class; entrepreneurship; disadvantage; gender; self-employment; intersectionality; race; racial capitalism; social structure; positionality
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/29271575
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/action/doSearch?AllField=Racial+capitalism+and+entrepreneurship&SeriesKey=soca