Published 2025-08-15
Keywords
- Transgender Entrepreneurship, Socio-Economic Challenges, Financial Inclusion, Policy Reforms
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Entrepreneurship is the only professional sphere that assesses a person based on his or her capabilities and not the social position. In this area, the people who are entrepreneurs are categorized based on proficiency at being an entrepreneur rather than demographic indicators. Among the many segmentations of societies that are present in India, the stratification of gender has been the most noticeable. On the modern scene, entrepreneurs are further grouped into the categories including male, female and transgender groups. Transgender people have been systematically exposed to bias and discrimination in the social, economic, and political spheres in the past. In spite of the legal acknowledgment made by the corrective 2018 Supreme Court decision, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act (2019), the existing social norms have shown to limit access to education, jobs and health systems. Only a small percentage (about 10 percent) of the transgender people venture in entrepreneurial activities hence most are left to indulge in menial activities like begging and prostitution. Entrepreneurship, therefore, becomes a field that can be used by transgender individuals to gain dignity and supportive economy.
Even though there are still some cultural references, there is still discrimination deeply established. To enhance their socio-economic conditions strategically thus, they will have to invest in education and entrepreneurial support structures. The government steps such as the NALSA Judgment, decriminalization of Section 377, and the creation of the National Council of Transgender Persons aim to bring more equality. However, very little empirical studies on transgender entrepreneurship prevails, especially in Kerala.
In this study, a mixed-design methodology is used to look at the socio-economic positioning, issues, aspirations, and effects of mentorship programs on transgender entrepreneurs in Kerala, which combines both the qualitative interview based on interviews with seventeen transgender businesspersons and government representatives. The results highlight the strictures of identity, access to little finance, and inadequate formal training. However, against these challenges, transgender entrepreneurship has become particularly resourceful and creative, driving a shift in social progress. Such obstacles require policy changes and community development so that lawful entrepreneurial outcomes are on a long-term basis.