Women's entrepreneurship: Challenges and prospects

Relevance. Female entrepreneurship is a dynamically developing segment of the Russian economy, occupying a significant place in the system of small and medium-sized businesses. Current legislation proclaims equality of rights and freedoms regardless of gender; however, the practical implementation of entrepreneurial activities by women is associated with multiple legal barriers and institutional limitations. The relevance of the topic is driven by the need for a legal analysis of obstacles hindering the full development of female businesses and the formation of scientifically grounded proposals for improving the regulatory framework.
Purpose of the work is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the legal status of women entrepreneurs and to develop mechanisms for eliminating discriminatory practices in the business sphere.
Objectives include: analyzing the constitutional and legal foundations of women's entrepreneurial activities, identifying gaps in legislation on supporting female businesses, studying judicial practice in disputes involving women entrepreneurs, assessing the effectiveness of state programs, and forming recommendations for legislative reform.
Methodology. To reveal the topic, a combination of three complementary methods was used: formal legal analysis, comparative legal method, and statistical method.
Results reveal subtle mechanisms of inequality. Hidden discrimination manifests itself in lending practices banks require spousal consent and inflate interest rates, citing mythical "risks." Industry-specific restrictions block access to high-tech and capital-intensive sectors, forcing women's businesses into low-margin niches of trade and services. Targeted support measures are either absent or exist only at the regional level in the form of bylaws without any real binding force.
Conclusions. The legal vacuum requires filling with a special federal law on the development of women's entrepreneurship, with specific mechanisms for protection against discrimination, preferential treatment in public procurement, and grant programs. Labor legislation needs to be supplemented with provisions on maintaining entrepreneurial status during maternity leave. The Tax Code should provide for incentives at the initial stages of entrepreneurship, similar to the French model.

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