"Deprived of support because we're born women": Emerging Socio-Technical Pathways and Evolving Struggles for Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh
Manika Saha, MISITA ANWAR, Md Khalid Hossain, Tanjila Kanij, Umme Humayra, Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed, Gillian Oliver, Stephen Lindsay · 2026
Women’s entrepreneurship is a key driver of socio-economic empowerment in the Global South, yet patriarchal sociocultural contexts limit entrepreneur’s autonomy and, despite increasing attention to gender issues in HCI, shifting digital infrastructures cause privacy, security, and logistical challenges. We conduct 15 interviews with women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh who rely on digital technology, offering insight into who they are, their business and supply chains, technology use, and the gendered challenges of balancing work with family. We present women’s accounts of navigating in-person and online harassment and crime, including through payment platforms, and banking tools that legally enforce gender discrimination. We discuss how digital technology design must adapt to these pervasive issues and propose digital interventions to support developing their businesses and achieving financial independence. Our work contributes to understanding how HCI can take a transformative role in overcoming barriers and advancing mechanisms for women’s financial empowerment in the Global South.