Are Females Ready to Become Entrepreneurs? A Case Study of Entrepreneurial Intentions Among Female Students in the Higher Education System of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

This study aims to assess the entrepreneurial behavior of female students in higher education in Uttar Pradesh, India, using the framework
of the theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory. It employs a quantitative research approach, collecting 250 data points
from female students through a non-probability sampling method. The findings indicate that female students’ proactiveness (β = .27),
creativity (β = .18), narcissism (β = .18), entrepreneurial passion (β = .14), and self-efficacy (β = 0.11) significantly influence their
entrepreneurial intentions. Conversely, risk tolerance, optimism, and the need for achievement do not have a significant effect on their
decision to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. Additionally, entrepreneurial motivations such as autonomy (β = .84) and perceived
usefulness (β = .89) fully and significantly mediate the relationship between female students’entrepreneurial qualities and their intention
to start a business in the future. The study offers implications for policymakers aiming to foster and support female entrepreneurs in
developing countries like India. It underscores the importance of understanding women’s unique motivations for becoming entrepreneurs
in patriarchal societies and highlights the necessity of supportive institutional frameworks to enable their success.