Gender Differences in Youth Entrepreneurship: A ‎Comparative Study of Kerala and Tamil Nadu

  • Authors

    • Sajeev Kumar A. P. Assistant Professor ‎Postgraduate & Research Department of Commerce, Government Arts & Science ‎College, Calicut, ‎ Meenchanda - 673018, Kerala ‎& ‎Research Scholar – Part-Time Postgraduate & Research Department of Commerce, Government Arts College ‎‎(autonomous) ‎, – 639005, Tamil Nadu ‎‎(affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Thiruchirappalli)
    • Dr. N Shanmugham Associate Professor, Head & Research Supervisor, Postgraduate & research department of commerce, government Arts College ‎‎(autonomous) ‎, Karur – 639005, Tamil Nadu ‎‎(affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli) ‎
    • Dr. Madhusoodanan Kartha N. V. Associate professor Postgraduate & Research Department of Commerce ‎, Panampilly Memorial Government College, Chalakudy, Potta (post), Thrissur ‎district. Pin– 680722, Kerala ‎‎(affiliated to the University of Calicut)‎
    https://doi.org/10.14419/z3gwzb48

    Received date: August 1, 2025

    Accepted date: August 23, 2025

    Published date: November 4, 2025

  • Gender Differences; Youth Entrepreneurship; Comparative Study; Kerala; Tamil Nadu‎.

  • Abstract

    This research study compares and contrasts the socio-cultural, economic, and institutional ‎variables that contribute to gender inequalities in youth entrepreneurship in the Indian states of ‎Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Based on their resource availability, goals, and gendered responsibilities ‎to meet societal standards, this study aims to comprehend the various experiences of young men, ‎women, and gender-diverse individuals. The research was conducted using primary data ‎collected from 30 young entrepreneurs and statistical tools such as SPSS and Excel. In terms of ‎mentorship, funding, performance, and the longevity of their businesses, the results reveal that ‎young men enjoy sex-based advantages over young women. Entrepreneurship and small-scale ‎business development are driven by necessity for young women, particularly those from rural ‎backgrounds, who face financial precarity, restricted mobility, and gender norms and ‎expectations. While government programs like Kudumbashree in Kerala and Startup missions in ‎Tamil Nadu do offer support, they do not eliminate socio-cultural disadvantages simply because ‎someone has access to them—respondents who identified as transgender experienced systemic ‎exclusion. Despite the lack of statistically significant variations in perceived company ‎performance based on gender in the quantitative data analysis, the qualitative data nonetheless ‎demonstrated the persistence of gender bias in the region. The report acknowledges the need for ‎programs to address gender inequalities in entrepreneurship to develop more comprehensive ‎systems of support, including financial and mentorship assistance. It also calls for research into ‎policies that have an impact on and are dependent upon businesses to narrow the gender gap‎.

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  • How to Cite

    A. P. , S. K. ., Shanmugham , D. N. ., & N. V. , D. M. K. . (2025). Gender Differences in Youth Entrepreneurship: A ‎Comparative Study of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 12(7), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.14419/z3gwzb48