"The Bootstrappers Way"

Caribbean women's economic status cannot be separated from prevailing social norms and values related to their responsibility for the home and family. Since the period of African slavery, Caribbean family forms have not conformed to the European nuclear family "ideal." Studies in the 2000s showed that nearly half of households were headed by women. In many cases opportunities and incentives are unfavourable for women to begin businesses, even when they have the abilities and knowledge. One implication of this study is that the phenomenon of financial bootstrapping deserves more attention in future research on small business finance. This line of research is important to academics and practitioners alike, as it contributes to our understanding of the use of bootstrapping by women entrepreneurs. The findings from this study offer promise that bootstrapping can in fact be linked to the growth and development of financing alternatives and entrepreneurship for women in Trinidad and Tobago.