INTERPRETING HOW RELIGIOUS VALUES AFFECT ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOURS AMONG MUSLIM BUSINESSWOMEN: THE CASE OF BUSINESSWOMEN FROM THE

DISTRICT OF PENDANG, KEDAH IN MALAYSIA

ASSOC. PROF. DR. ROHANA YUSOF NORTHERN CORRIDOR RESEARCH CENTRE (NCRC) LEVEL 2, ECONOMIC BUILDING COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA 06010 UUM SINTOK KEDAH DARUL AMAN MALAYSIA Email: rohana@uum.edu.my 04-928 3651/4661

ABSTRACT Factors may vary in different environment, religious and cultural backgrounds which influence women to venture into business and entrepreneurship. This paper discusses to what extent religious and cultural values has an influence on how women interpret their entrepreneurial behaviors and practices. Insights into the influence of religion and cultural values is based on a study of 31 Malay rural business women in Kedah, Malaysia. This study shows that the women business-owners asserted that the success or failure of an entrepreneur depends not only on inherent socio-psychological attributes or socio-economic attributes but also placed importance on being a pious, committed and a dedicated Muslim woman. They are able to construct the relationship between religious values and their contribution to business success. Hence, this paper will attempt to interpret how religion that is Islam influenced their entrepreneurial behavior and practices. Hence this paper may stimulate interest and raised questions about how religion ideas influence the economic activities and how religion had played a significant role in their success in business.

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Paper presented at the 2nd Congress of the Asian Association of Womens Studies (CAAWS 2010) Penang, 9-11 December 2010

Paper presented at the 2nd Congress of the Asian Association of Womens Studies (CAAWS 2010) Penang, 9-11 December 2010