Challenges facing male and female handcraft entrepreneurs: a comparative analysis

The main aim of this study was to examine the challenges facing male and female handicraft entrepreneurs. In order to gather the data, the study used descriptive research design in which questionnaires were used being distributed to male and female entrepreneurs in handicraft industry in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. The data were entered into SPSS to generate descriptive statistics, and testing of hypotheses was done through use of T-test in which the sample size was 135. The findings revealed that there is significant difference between male and female in accessing the market information, product knowledge development and gender role where by female seems to be the most affected gender more than male. In addition the study showed the challenges that face both male and female entrepreneurs to include; not getting support from the government, having difficulties in communicating with foreigners as the respondents revealed that most of their customers were foreigners. The research concluded that handicraft industry is one of the sectors which is recently growing therefore male and female need to overcome those challenges facing them by providing the necessary means that will enable them to be innovative and be able to compete in the international market. Finally, the study recommends that both NGOs and the government should work out on how best they can support both male and female entrepreneurs in the handicraft industry in Tanzania so as to enable it contribute to the economic growth of the country.