The Beginning of Female Entrepreneurship in Scientific and Fictional Works of Croatian Authors

Svrha ovog članka jest prikazati poduzetničku ulogužene u Hrvatskoj u 19. stoljeću te istaknuti raznolikostiskustava žena u poduzetništvu. Analiza karakteristikapoduzetništva žena temelji se na znanstvenim, većinomhistoriografskim, izvorima hrvatskih istraživača –kvantitativnim podacima kao što su popis stanovništva,izvješća trgovačko-obrtničke komore, statistički godišnjaci,zatim sudski slučajevi, zabilješke iz novina. Ovomrepertoaru izvora dodajemo citate hrvatskih književnikaiz 19. stoljeća. Cilj je ovoga članka rekonstruirati slikupoduzetnice u Hrvatskoj u 19. stoljeću, usporediti je spoduzetnicama iz Europe i transponirati sliku u hrvatskisociokulturni i ekonomski kontekst. Pokušavamo istražitipostoje li konzistentne determinante, poput kulture ivrijednosti koje dugoročno utječu na poduzetništvo iekonomski rast. Koncentracija žena u "ženskimsegmentima" ekonomije bio je za žene način da seizbjegnu ulazne barijere u poduzetništvu. Iako su sesuočavale s manjkom obrazovanja, vlasništva i kapitalakoji osiguravaju poslovni uspjeh, žene su osvojile vitalni idinamični segment malih obrta i poduzeća u uslužnomsektoru. Primjenjujući učinkovite strategije preživljavanja,potiho su stvarale prostor individualnosti i ekonomskeneovisnosti.The purpose of this paper is to make visible theentrepreneurial role of women in the 19th century in Croatiaas well as to emphasize the diversity of women\u27s experiences.The analysis of the features of female entrepreneurship isbased on the scientific, mostly historiographic sources ofCroatian researchers, such as quantitative data (census data,reports of chamber of trade and crafts, statistical yearbooks),court cases, newspapers notes. This array of analytic tools isalso enriched by adding citations from fictional works ofCroatian 19th century writers. The aim of the article is toreconstruct the image of the female entrepreneur in Croatia,compare it with its European counterparts and transpose thisimage into the Croatian socio-cultural and economic context.The author tries to investigate if there are consistentdeterminants such as culture and values that affectentrepreneurship and economic growth in the long run. Theconcentration of female entrepreneurs in "female segments"of the economy was a way of avoiding barriers to entry.Although they were faced with a lack of education, propertyand capital that ensure business success, women conqueredthe vital and dynamic segment of small businesses in theservices sector. Using the effective survival strategies, theyquietly created their own individual space and economicindependence