MIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR MOTHERS IN CHILE: AN APPROACH FROM THE WORK-FAMILY BALANCE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the tensions experienced by 41 migrant mothers in Chile, supported by the MWE program, and the strategies they develop to manage their reproductive responsibilities while pursuing entrepreneurial projects in digital environments. The analysis allowed for an in-depth examination of the participants’ individual experiences, highlighting a series of obstacles. In this context, managing caregiving roles is exacerbated by a lack of support networks and limited resources. As a result, only a minority are able to sustain themselves on income from their businesses, while the majority are compelled to combine entrepreneurship with salaried employment. Despite these challenges, many of the women express a desire to dedicate themselves exclusively to entrepreneurship in order to gain greater control over their time and improve work-life balance, thus aspiring to both professional and personal fulfillment.