Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women
Abstract Gendered poverty remains a persistent issue in the Global South, particularly in the Caribbean, where economic activity heavily relies on volatile sectors such as tourism and agriculture, leaving many women unemployed and economically vulnerable. Despite investments in Technical Vocational...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Discover Global Society |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00162-z |
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| author | Priscilla Bahaw Ayanna Stephens Abede Mack |
| author_facet | Priscilla Bahaw Ayanna Stephens Abede Mack |
| author_sort | Priscilla Bahaw |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gendered poverty remains a persistent issue in the Global South, particularly in the Caribbean, where economic activity heavily relies on volatile sectors such as tourism and agriculture, leaving many women unemployed and economically vulnerable. Despite investments in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to address unemployment, existing research inadequately explores how entrepreneurship education (EE) can be integrated into TVET to empower women. Women face distinct challenges, including entrenched gender stereotypes, systemic biases, and limited access to entrepreneurial opportunities, which further hinder their transition from skills training to sustainable self-employment. Adopting an exploratory research design, this perspective paper utilizes an integrated literature review method to synthesize insights from peer-reviewed studies, white papers, and policy documents, advocating for the integration of EE into TVET through a gender-sensitive approach. Two key findings emerged: (1) integrating EE within TVET can equip women with entrepreneurial skills that complement technical training, and (2) gender-sensitive practices, such as flexible curricula, gender sensitized modules, women-led business mentorship programs, women-only cohorts, and institutional support, are critical to achieving these outcomes. We conclude that this dual-focus model offers practical implications for TVET institutions to redesign their programs and collaborate with NPOs and policymakers to provide ongoing support for economically deprived women. By empowering women to transition into self-employment, the approach fosters inclusive economic growth, reduces poverty, and enhances social development. Furthermore, its broader adoption offers a pathway to addressing gender inequalities and promoting entrepreneurship development worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-025b785d82d74a9b888f2271ecdbdd19 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-9687 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Discover Global Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-025b785d82d74a9b888f2271ecdbdd192025-08-20T02:12:01ZengSpringerDiscover Global Society2731-96872025-04-013111410.1007/s44282-025-00162-zGender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean womenPriscilla Bahaw0Ayanna Stephens1Abede Mack2Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of the West IndiesCollege of Graduate Studies and Research, University of the Commonwealth CaribbeanGerald Schwartz School of Business, Department of Management, St Francis Xavier UniversityAbstract Gendered poverty remains a persistent issue in the Global South, particularly in the Caribbean, where economic activity heavily relies on volatile sectors such as tourism and agriculture, leaving many women unemployed and economically vulnerable. Despite investments in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to address unemployment, existing research inadequately explores how entrepreneurship education (EE) can be integrated into TVET to empower women. Women face distinct challenges, including entrenched gender stereotypes, systemic biases, and limited access to entrepreneurial opportunities, which further hinder their transition from skills training to sustainable self-employment. Adopting an exploratory research design, this perspective paper utilizes an integrated literature review method to synthesize insights from peer-reviewed studies, white papers, and policy documents, advocating for the integration of EE into TVET through a gender-sensitive approach. Two key findings emerged: (1) integrating EE within TVET can equip women with entrepreneurial skills that complement technical training, and (2) gender-sensitive practices, such as flexible curricula, gender sensitized modules, women-led business mentorship programs, women-only cohorts, and institutional support, are critical to achieving these outcomes. We conclude that this dual-focus model offers practical implications for TVET institutions to redesign their programs and collaborate with NPOs and policymakers to provide ongoing support for economically deprived women. By empowering women to transition into self-employment, the approach fosters inclusive economic growth, reduces poverty, and enhances social development. Furthermore, its broader adoption offers a pathway to addressing gender inequalities and promoting entrepreneurship development worldwide.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00162-zCaribbeanEntrepreneurshipGendered povertyGlobal SouthTVETWomen |
| spellingShingle | Priscilla Bahaw Ayanna Stephens Abede Mack Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women Discover Global Society Caribbean Entrepreneurship Gendered poverty Global South TVET Women |
| title | Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women |
| title_full | Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women |
| title_fullStr | Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women |
| title_short | Gender-sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education: addressing poverty for Caribbean women |
| title_sort | gender sensitive vocational and entrepreneurship education addressing poverty for caribbean women |
| topic | Caribbean Entrepreneurship Gendered poverty Global South TVET Women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00162-z |
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