National Report Greece

According to the data of greek national report, women Entrepreneurs in the countryside are not a different category of people with distinct characteristics and all rural women could undertake business. Also, what turned women in self-employment and participation in business activities is the exclusion from dependent jobs.

The development of women’s entrepreneurship in an area is manifested according to the local development dynamics and needs that prevail, but without the development sector defining the activities of companies. The woman entrepreneur of the Greek countryside, is middle-aged, married, of satisfactory educational level, without training related to the object of her business, with life experience in urban center, which did not grow up in a family with business activity, with previous professional experience but not related to the object of the business and which created the business opportunity to meet its family and personal needs.

Women entrepreneurs believe that with their businesses they play an important role in the life of their place, on the one hand encouraging its economy and on the other hand contributing to the service of the daily life of the locals but also to the service of their respective fields. They also believe that their involvement in the business was/is a factor of social prestige and upgrading their position in the local community.

Although women’s businesses in the Greek countryside are not always viable and competitive in economic terms, their existence in the areas where they operate is very important. This is because they are companies that play an important role for the woman herself, for her family and for the local community.