In face of the challenge to build knowledge on the psychological aspects of gender entrepreneurship in Brazil, this study aims to analyze the worries of entrepreneurial women worries and their subjective well-being. Forty-nine women owning business in various areas of activity in Rio de Janeiro were interviewed at their companies. A self-evaluation measure showed that entrepreneurial women shared an overall high level of quality of life, based mainly on their satisfaction at work, with children and with self-respect. Data indicated that multiple roles played by entrepreneurs are equally relevant. Qualitative analysis of the interviews revealed that those women are fearless and self-confident, though they have worries related to the company financial aspects and growth. Self-satisfied, passionately identified with their firms, they perceive themselves in an achievement continuous process. Problems related to discrimination and to multiple role-playing, as well as all other data are discussed in the light of the literature on gender entrepreneurship.
gender entrepreneurship; subjective well-being; multiple social roles
