Feminism is a philosophy that deals with improving the situation of women regarding the attainment of socio-economic privileges similar and equal to those afforded men (Reuber and Dyke, 1993; Offen, 2012; Gupta, 2015). The key view of feminism in this study is concerned with the advancement of women by granting them opportunities equal to those granted to men (King, 2016).
Fischer et al. (1993) also highlight the degree to which the politically right definition of equality suggests the norm of manhood as the standard. Therefore, Fischer et al. (1993) suggest that feminism must principally be observed as a developmental ideology, or structure of philosophies, in its own right.
This section examines a list of feminist movements and ideologies that have established themselves over the years. The ideologies show a discrepancy in objectives, affiliations and strategies (McCarty, Poole and Rosenthal, 2016). They often have overlapping similarities and some feminists categorize themselves with several divisions of feminist thought (Rouet, Le Bigot, de Pereyra and Britt, 2016). Various feminist categories are examined in the following section, with the aim of selecting those categories that can be aligned to this research.
Liberal feminism
Liberal feminism puts its emphases on impartiality between men and women through zealotry and lawful conversion.
Anarchist feminism
Anarchism entails revolutionary engagements by whoever is unhappy with the status quo. This type of feminism syndicates revolution with radicalism (Dunbar-Ortiz, 2002). It regards patriarchy as an expression of spontaneous pecking order.
Socialist and Marxist
Socialist feminism links the male dominance of females by abusive means perpetuated by men on women, while exercising unfair advantage and dominance on women (Zetkin and Luxemburg, 1910). Socialist feminists regard the discrimination of women at employment places and their being home-based as both uncalled for and degenerating.
Radical feminism
The radical feminist considers male-controlled entrepreneurial dominance as chauvinist and a subjugation of females (Echols, 1989). Male dominance tends to consider male demands while giving little attention to female counterparts. Radical steps are therefore recommended towards levelling the playground for both males and females.
Table 3.1 gives a summary of each category of the feminist theory.
Table 3.1: Feminist theory categories and Author/activist
Feminist Theory Author and Activist Summary of Theory
Liberal
Bell (1984) • Emphasizes egalitarianism between males and females through radicalism and lawful transformation.
Anarchist Dunbar-Ortiz (2002) • This type of feminism combines revolution with radicalism. It regards patriarchy as an expression of spontaneous pecking order.
Socialist and Marxist
Zetkin and Luxemburg (1910)
• Socialist feminism associates the domination of females in Marxist terms of taking advantage, domination and employment.
Socialist feminists regard inadequate positioning of females in both place of work and the home domain as regressive for women.
Radical Echols (1989) • Contemplates the patriarchal entrepreneurial chain of command as chauvinist and the significant feature of females' subjugation.
Cultural Alcoff (1998:32)
Kramarae and Spender (2000)
• Cultural feminism is based on the "female nature" or "female essence" that attempts revalidation of undervalued aspects of women.
Libertarian Greenway, Judy (2000) McElroy (2002)
Sommers (1995:320) McElroy (2002) LaFramboise (1996)
• Classical liberal or libertarian feminism recognizes self-determination as sovereignty from forcible interfering. Individuals, regardless of whether they are men or women, have the right to make their own personal decisions, including business decisions.
Source: Own Compilation
The analysis of literature presented by scholars in Table 3.1 revealed that most of the studies done on feminism in Africa have been conducted outside Zimbabwe, revealing a dearth of research regarding women-related socio-economic activities in Zimbabwe. The summary of the research studies presented shows that they were generally carried out during the period covering 1940-2016 and were done by distinguished 21st-century feminists within the African context. None of these
notable 21st-century feminists have researched and published any literature on feminism vis-à-vis the bank SMES lending criteria. The paucity of literature in the women-owned SMES sector justifies this research.
3.3 Liberal feminist theory
Scholars agree that the liberal feminist theory advocates that women are underprivileged compared to males, resulting from discrimination and systemic factors that deny women of important means being linked to entrepreneurial training and experience (He, 2018; McElroy, 2002; Greenway, 2000; Degler, 1964). Considering this view, and relating to the current study, one can hypothesise that women entrepreneurs are disadvantaged in comparison to male entrepreneurs in Gweru, Zimbabwe. The struggles faced by female entrepreneurs are, therefore, a manifestation of their gender more than their skills capacity. The liberal feminist theory acknowledges the prevalence of systemic factors that play a role in influencing the accessibility of resources that a critical to the sustenance and survival of women (Greenway, 2000; McElroy, 2002). In this light, one can anticipate the possibility that women have limited access to bank loans for their SMESs in comparison to their male counterparts.
Previous studies that have explored whether women are discriminated against by banks or lenders and consultants are consistent with a liberal feminist theory (King, 2016; Greenway, 2000;
McElroy, 2002; Sommers, 1995; LaFramboise, 1996). Other scholars argue that liberal feminism proclaims classlessness between men and women regarding politics and legal reform (Baylis, Smith and Owens, 2017; Greenway, 2000; Bell, 1984). It is a concept of feminism affecting an individual and focuses on females' capacity to demonstrate and uphold their equivalence, demonstrating their personal activities and selections (Greenway, 2000). The theory also makes use of individual collaborations concerning males and females to transform society (Larrabee, 2016; McElroy, 2002). For the liberalists, all females have the capability to proclaim their capacity to accomplish equivalence (Adams, 2018). Based on McElroy’s (2002) assertion, it is conceivable for change to emerge without changing societal configuration or make-up.
According to the liberal feminists, consideration must be given to issues important to women (Messerschmidt and Tomsen, 2018), for instance, their right to reproduction and abortion, equal pay awarded for equal work, sexual provocation concerns, voting, and bringing to light the
occurrence of sexual and domestic violence (Bell, 1984). This study also hypothesized that non- accessibility of business funding regarding female entrepreneurs is a form of discrimination perpetrated against women by a patriarchal business society.