Women empowerment and entrepreneurial intention: A pathway to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG-5)

This research aims to investigate the impact of social networking, family support, social dominance orientation and, access to finance on the entrepreneurial intention among Omani women and to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial persistence and entrepreneurial passion between growth constraints and the entrepreneurial intention on Omani women. The contribution of women in the development of the economy has received great attention in the past years. Therefore, to motivate women to engage in entrepreneurship, it is necessary to understand the growth impediments that impact their entrepreneurial intentions to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG-5). By using the stratified sampling method, this study collected data from 262 Omani women from nine regions, including Al Batinah North, Al Batinah South, AlBuraimi, Muscat, Ash Sharqiyah South, Ad Dakhiliyah, Dhofar, Ad Dhahirah, and Musandam. The study's findings showed that social networking significantly impacts entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial persistence. At the same time, access to finance and family support has an insignificant effect on entrepreneurial persistence, entrepreneurial passion, and entrepreneurial intention. The findings indicate the role of the mediating variables between growth constraints and entrepreneurial intention. Based on findings that offer valuable insight, several recommended strategies are provided for policymakers in general and for the socioeconomic development of Omani women, in particular.