Armenia

Mainstreaming Gender in Project Operationsengaged in business, especially at the micro level and outside of large cities, are said tobe buying and selling to each other since they are isolated from larger markets, evenin Armenia. Women in Berd and Goris who had experience with home production ofvegetables and fruits explained that it is very time-consuming to sell homegrown products,and because they cannot access larger markets, they found it easier to sell their productsto a distributor for a lower price. In Goris, one woman gave the example of a jam-makingventure she started, but because she had too little knowledge of market constraints, shefound that the licensing and taxes were too prohibitive to continue. Monopolies also playa role in limiting women’s ability to sell their products in certain stores. 263 For women whoare engaged in trade, the lack of transport routes in and out of the country, and limitedroad transport, constrain their export potential. Furthermore, women who own microsizedenterprises often are unable to obtain the licenses needed for export. Those that do exporttheir products usually have assistance and facilitation from international organizations.191. Prevailing gender norms limit women’s networking opportunities and place femaleentrepreneurs at a disadvantage. Businesswomen face particular difficulties meeting andspeaking with men who are not relatives about business matters. Sometimes businessnegotiations between men take place in settings that are not accessible to women, forexample, over meals (in some locations, social norms would prevent women from sittingwith men). In some regions, a woman would be “embarrassed to invite a male businesspartner to a restaurant or café” to discuss business matters, so she would most likely gowith her husband or sons. 264 It is not accepted in society for married women (or womenover age 35 years) to undertake “negotiations with men (including non-formal meetings,such as discussing business ideas in a restaurant or, casual places) by themselves alone.” 265192. Several stakeholders mentioned the fact that women entering business face toughcompetition from men, which prevents their businesses from expanding, in size and bysector. In Gyumri, a focus group participant commented that there is no possibility forwomen to openly compete with men in business, and that this is a closed field. Women inAshtarak felt that business interests are closely connected to local authorities, and thereis “no room” for women there. Culturally, women are generally “allowed” to manage microand small enterprises, and may reach the mid-level, but large female-owned businesses aresaid to be “run by women with some very influential protector from the government.” 266193. Gender stereotypes affect women’s entrepreneurial activities. Gender roles aswell as stereotypes about women in business are influential. On one hand, in surveys thatask whether “business” or “trade” are professions for men or women, a fairly large numberof people considered these jobs open to either sex (51.2% in the case of business and 30%in the case of trade), but these jobs were also more closely associated with men. 267 On theother hand, questions about women’s ability to be managers elicited clearer responses thatmen are preferred in this role. Some interviewees stated that there are no role models ofsuccessful businesswomen, and research has found that there is a common perception263 Study on Women’s SMEs in Armenia, p. 19.264 Ibid.265 Assessment of Women Entrepreneurship Development in Armenia, p. 13.266 Study on Women’s SMEs in Armenia, p. 29.267 Keep Me Away From Your Stereotypes: Sociological Survey Analysis, p. 40; and European Training Foundation and Caucasus ResearchResource Centers. 2011. Mosaics of Gender Relations: Studies of Gender Socialization, Gender Tolerance, and Gender Identity. Yerevan:Yerevan State University. pp. 28–29.57