The importance of feminist economy and women entrepreneurship for regional development

Regionalni razvoj ne može se promatrati bez analize problematike tradicionalne ekonomije koja zanemaruje ulogu žena pri kreiranju bruto domaćeg proizvoda (BDP). Tradicionalna ekonomija ne mjeri adekvatno neplaćeni rad, obično žena pri obavljanju kućanskih poslova, brige o djeci i starijima, stoga feministička ekonomija zagovara da se istraži i vrednuje doprinos neplaćenog rada žena pri kreiranju BDP-a. Cilj istraživanja je prezentirati nevidiljivi dio doprinosa ženskih poslova pri kreiranju BDP-a, ukazati na značaj ženskog poduzetništva i potaknuti regionalni razvoj kroz edukaciju žena o poduzetništvu. U istraživanju se koristila PEST analiza trenutnog stanja u BiH, zasnovana na sekundarnim podacima iz zvaničnih statističkih i drugih relevantnih publikacija koje su nastale primarnim istraživanjem ove problematike u BiH. Izvršeno je i primarno istraživanje ciljanog uzorka ispitanika iz regije, a anketiranjem su potvrđeni prezentirani rezultati u PEST analizi. Naglasak u radu je na razvoju ženskog poduzetništva, ali i generalno na socio-ekonomskoj ulozi žena u BH ekonomiji, kao i na značaju podizanja nivoa svijesti o ovoj temi u regiji. U „Izvještaju o stanju ravnopravnosti spolova u BiH“ (Agencija za ravnopravnost spolova, 2018. godina), navodi se da je jednak broj dječaka i djevojčica, žena i muškaraca uključen u proces obrazovanja u BiH, ali su i dalje ograničene mogućnosti napredovanja za djevojčice/žene i pristup pozicijama za koje su potrebne visoke kvalifikacije, prije svega zbog postojanja stereotipa koji se odnose na muška/ženska zanimanja i pitanja usklađivanja profesionalnog i porodičnog života. Položaj većine žena u BH društvu je nezavidan, a njihova ekonomska i svaka druga sigurnost prilično upitna. Unatoč lošim uvjetima, žene u BiH uspjele su da opstanu, pokreću vlastite poslove i da se istovremeno uspješno brinu za svoje obitelji, ali i postanu pokretači promjena u BiH i regionalnog društvenog razvoja.Regional development cannot be observed without analyzing the problems of the traditional economy, which neglects the role of women in the creation of gross domestic product (GDP). The traditional economy does not adequately measure unpaid work, usually by women in housework, child care and the elderly, and therefore the feminist economy advocates exploring and evaluating the contribution of women’s unpaid work in creating GDP. The aim of the research is to present the ‘invisible’ part of the contribution of women’s jobs in the creation of GDP, to highlight the importance of women’s entrepreneurship and to stimulate regional development through women’s entrepreneurship education. The study uses a PEST analysis for current state of affairs in B&H, based on secondary data collected from official statistical and other relevant publications that have arisen from primary research on this issue in B&H. Primary survey of the target sample of respondents from region was conducted, and the results presented in the PEST analysis were confirmed by the online survey. The emphasis in the paper is on the development of women’s entrepreneurship, but also on the general socio-economic role of women in the BH economy, as well as on the importance of raising awareness on this topic in the region. The B&H Gender Equality Report of the Agency for Gender Equality (2018) states that an equal number of boys and girls, women and men are involved in the B&H education process, but promotion opportunities for girls/women remain limited and access to positions requiring high qualifications, primarily due to the existence of stereotypes relating to male/female occupations and issues of reconciling work and family life. The position of most women in BH society is unenviable, and their economic and other security is quite questionable. Despite such poor conditions, women from B&H have managed to survive, start their own businesses, successfully take care of their families, and become drivers of change in B&H and regional social development