Socio-Demography, Social Entrepreneurship, and Changing Models of Enterprise Success: An Empirical Examination

The purpose of this study was to accomplish two things: 1) to examine the relationship between gender, age, socioeconomics, and education and successful social entrepreneurship; and 2) to develop a new definition of social entrepreneurship, based upon a survey of the existing literature and the results of this research study, that may be subject to future empirical testing and validation. Results of this study are of significant importance to those currently pursuing a social entrepreneurial venture as well as those considering one. The relationship between gender and social entrepreneurship found in this study may be established upon the basis of role theory wherein gender roles (traits) are based upon socialization and conditioning rather than simply by virtue of male-female sex designation. Quantitative analysis methods were applied to archival data obtained from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey of 2009. Results from this research indicate a positive relationship of varying degrees between all four dependent variables (gender, age, socioeconomics, and education) and successful entrepreneurship. Additionally, it was discovered that earned income strategies comprise a noteworthy role in the pursuit of successful social entrepreneurial ventures. This finding emerged as a significant contribution to the field. Lastly, a new definition of social entrepreneurship was created. Among the recommendations for further research included: a grounded theory study that explores the attitudes and perspectives of graduate-level educated females toward the selection of social entrepreneurial pursuits; a research study to find out why some social entrepreneurs may choose to pursue earned income strategies while others do not; and a study designed to understand and measure public perceptions toward social enterprises that do include earned income strategies.