Rosa entreprenörer
En studie av homosexuella män som entreprenörer i ett heteronormativt samhälle
Purpose This thesis tries to create an understanding of how male homosexual entrepreneurs, both as persons and as a concept, relates to the fact that entrepreneurship, as well as the society as a whole, is heteronormative. Moreover, it examines by what methods the male homosexual entrepreneurs cope with the seemingly paradox of a homosexual man who also is an entrepreneur. Method The method has been qualitative from a social construction-point of view. We have made semi-structured interviews with nine male homosexual entrepreneurs and structured the findings from the interviews with a computer programme and mind mapping techniques. We have compared the structured findings with theories, in an abducting manner, to find out an answer to the purpose of this thesis. The method also implies a hermeneutic way to understand and interpret the data. Theory There are numerous theories on entrepreneurship today, but as this thesis deals with male homosexual entrepreneurs, and not with entrepreneurs in general, we have sought theories dealing with exactly that. General theories on entrepreneurial research focus on a white heterosexual adult man; i.e. other theories had to be applied to understand gay entrepreneurs. We have found very little concerning this area, which has forced us, instead, to bring up theories dealing with another marginalized group, i.e. women (and their entrepreneurship), and made necessary adjustments to be able to analyze our findings. Findings We have found that the so called gender theories on entrepreneurship can be used to try to answer our questions, and that they can explain the situation of the male homosexual entrepreneurs. Our interviewees can be divided into two groups, with one group, albeit open with their sexuality, tries not to make ?a big deal? of it, and a second group of people which rather tries to exploit it. The two groups have also developed different strategies to manage their situation. Group 1 has strategies oriented towards dealing with problems associated with being a male homosexual entrepreneur such as ?de-sexualisation?, while the strategies of group 2 would be more to explore the possibilities their situation brings forward.