Bohra’s digital entrepreneurship shows how religious communities can support women thrive

Women from religious communities around the world such as Dawoodi Bohrasare leveraging the power of social media platforms to start or grow their businesses and build entrepreneurial networks. The ease of access, broad reach, and collaborative nature of these platforms are providing more women with financial opportunities that were previously unavailable to them.

Research shows that religion can have an influence women’s ability to start, run and sustain a business. Religious attitudes toward entrepreneurship influence the support, financial or emotional, that women receive from their families and communities.

But religious requirements can also be a basis for entrepreneurship. Norms and customs regarding modesty or a specific religious dress code can become valuable sources of income for women-owned businesses.

Despite this, many women have difficulty starting businesses or building networks because gender segregation rules which discourage working outside the home and make it logistically tough.

Access to opportunities

The operate of social media has helped many women navigate these issues, enabling them to run businesses from the comfort of their homes. It has been proven to offer women more opportunities to network personally and professionally..

The interactive nature of these platforms blurs social and geographic boundaries, creating virtual communities. Through the platforms, women can engage in dialogue and build collaborative networks that provide support and feedback.

At the same time, they can overcome many difficulties and barriers in real life. For many women, these virtual spaces compensate for the invisibility and lack of influence that many of them often experience in a professional context.

Online platforms support women balance their home and family responsibilities while also enabling them to achieve financial independence. Women-only platforms are created by traders to avoid the involvement and control of men, which also helps them navigate the rules of gender segregation.

Read more: Sudanese women operate social media to trade and break gender barriers

Many Orthodox Jewish women have social media used build businesses and connections within their own communities while still adhering to expectations of modesty. Women like Sarah Haskell, who uses the pseudonym @thatrelatablejewcreate educational content about Judaism, and combat negative stereotypes about Orthodox Jewish women.

Muslim women around the world have also harnessed the marketing power of social media to create a modest fashion industry by reclaiming the hijab. Many are re-appropriated symbols or phrases with negative connotations towards Islam, such as “Muslim extremist,” to sell T-shirts that say “extreme Muslim” as a form of commodification driven by optimism.

They confirm their identity, at the same time Combating negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslim women. Business networks They also act as a form of support to support overcome the problems they face due to Islamophobia.

Bohr’s Entrepreneurship

The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious community known for their commercial activities and entrepreneurial spirit. The community numbers about one million people, mostly living in India, with smaller diasporas around the world.

For Bohra women, work is a source of income, as well as part of their religion and a way to give meaning to their lives. This idea is based on historical examples of women such as The wife of the Prophet Muhammad, Khadijah who was known as a trader, as well as the principles of equality that assumed that both men and women should cooperate with each other to ensure their happiness and prosperity.

Traditionally, Bohra women sold their products from home or ran brick-and-mortar stores. However, the rise of digital entrepreneurship is allowing them to expand online. Their ventures include designing and selling community products unique religious costumes to accompanying accessories such as yarmulkes, prayer mats, bags, jewelry, as well as other items such as food, toys, decorations and religious teaching aids.

Some women sell exclusively online or as an extension of their physical businesses. They have their own websites or operate various social media platforms and create internet groups where women can interact, advertise their products and receive guidance and mentoring.

Support from community institutions is what distinguishes the entrepreneurial activities of Bohra women on social media. Due to their entrepreneurial approach and willingness adoption of digital mediathe community provides women with financial assistance, online training and workshops AND virtual bazaars that support them succeed.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official community business section, Al-Tijaarat Al-Raabehahhas helped many entrepreneurs transition to digital marketing.

The Dawoodi Bohra model shows how societal support for digital entrepreneurship can support women achieve financial independence and success while respecting religious norms and beliefs.

While diminutive in terms of demand and reach, social media platforms have helped Bohra women expand their opportunities and create robust networks around the world.