Virago Press were established in 1972 and became one of the twentieth century’s most enduring publishing brands. As a women-led enterprise, articulations of independence have defined key moments in Virago’s history. This article explores two moments when the company re-structured as independent, in 1976 and 1987. To become successful, Virago had to overcome barriers that have historically hindered women’s participation in business, namely limited social capital and difficulties accessing finance. Virago founder Carmen Callil’s friendships with publisher Paul Hamlyn and printing entrepreneur Robert Gavron embedded Virago in networks of male entrepreneurial knowledge that helped shape the evolution of the company. Such networks were vital to Virago securing investment from Rothschilds Ventures Limited in 1987 who were, at that time, leading figures in the UK’s growing private equity industry. This article contributes to growing historical understanding of the synergies between financial, arts and culture industries in the 80s. It argues that while this era offered new opportunities for women to participate in business, such participation was tempered by new forms of legal and financial discipline that re-calibrated existing gender inequalities within business cultures. Due to the time periods under consideration, this article also analyses how entrepreneurial practices and opportunities for women changed dramatically with the onset of Thatcher’s ‘Enterprise Culture’.

中文翻译：

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进取的女性：独立、金融和 Virago 出版社，c.1976-93

Virago Press 成立于 1972 年，成为二十世纪最经久不衰的出版品牌之一。作为一家由女性领导的企业，独立的表达定义了 Virago 历史上的关键时刻。本文探讨了公司在 1976 年和 1987 年重组为独立公司的两个时刻。要取得成功，Virago 必须克服历来阻碍女性参与商业活动的障碍，即有限的社会资本和获得融资的困难。Virago 创始人 Carmen Callil 与出版商 Paul Hamlyn 和印刷企业家 Robert Gavron 的友谊将 Virago 融入了男性创业知识网络，帮助塑造了公司的发展。这样的网络对于 Virago 于 1987 年从 Rothschilds Ventures Limited 获得投资至关重要，当时，Rothschilds Ventures Limited 英国不断发展的私募股权行业的领军人物。本文有助于加深对 80 年代金融、艺术和文化产业之间协同作用的历史理解。它认为，虽然这个时代为女性提供了参与商业的新机会，但这种参与受到了新形式的法律和金融纪律的影响，这些纪律重新校准了商业文化中现有的性别不平等。由于所考虑的时间段，本文还分析了随着撒切尔“企业文化”的兴起，女性的创业实践和机会如何发生巨大变化。它认为，虽然这个时代为女性提供了参与商业的新机会，但这种参与受到了新形式的法律和金融纪律的影响，这些纪律重新校准了商业文化中现有的性别不平等。由于所考虑的时间段，本文还分析了随着撒切尔“企业文化”的兴起，女性的创业实践和机会如何发生巨大变化。它认为，虽然这个时代为女性提供了参与商业的新机会，但这种参与受到了新形式的法律和金融纪律的影响，这些纪律重新校准了商业文化中现有的性别不平等。由于所考虑的时间段，本文还分析了随着撒切尔“企业文化”的兴起，女性的创业实践和机会如何发生巨大变化。