Work

Double marginality: Women in the Finnish scrap recycling business since the 1960s

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article examines the roles and experiences of, and challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in the Finnish scrap recycling business especially from the 1960s onwards. Historically, the business of waste recycling has been stigmatised because of negative prejudices towards waste materials and people in the business. Since scrap business has also been firmly male-dominated, women in the industry face double marginality. Supported by archive sources, I use oral history sources and method to show, that despite ostensible invisibility and degrading treatment through ‘marginalising communication’, the contributions of female entrepreneurs to the mostly small and medium-sized family scrap businesses have been significant since the beginning of the industry. I argue, that although the Finnish female entrepreneurs in the scrap business were double marginalised in their home country, on a global scale they were not.

Source: Business History

DOI: 10.1080/00076791.2025.2517106

Author: Kati Toivanen

Institution: University of Helsinki

Language: English

Topic: Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences

Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse