This article critically analyses the complexities of identity work among refugee women entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom. Once labelled as refugees, individuals are homogenised and disadvantaged by association with this stigmatised identity. We explore how women refugees undertake dynamic identity work to recreate themselves as entrepreneurs attempting to ameliorate such stigma. Using case study evidence, we find that claiming an entrepreneurial identity enables the refutation of the stigmatised refugee label and as such, it can be personally enhancing by improving well-being and socio-economic standing. The vestigial negative effects upon access to entrepreneurial resources arising from gendered constraints and a refugee background however, persist. Thus, these refugee entrepreneurs face a double-edged sword; while challenging stigmas through entrepreneurship is potentially liberating, having a refugee background acerbates the impact of enduring structural challenges upon women’s entrepreneurial activity. This has implications for venture potential and relatedly, to the sustainability of fragile entrepreneurial identities among a cohort of vulnerable women.

这篇文章批判地分析了联合王国难民女企业家中身份工作的复杂性。一旦被标记为难民，由于与此污名化的身份相关联，个人将被同化并处于不利地位。我们探索女性难民如何通过企业家的身份进行动态身份化工作，以重塑自己，以减轻这种污名。使用案例研究证据，我们发现声称具有企业家身份可以驳斥被污名化的难民标签，因此，可以通过改善幸福感和社会经济地位来提高个人地位。但是，由于性别限制和难民背景，对获得创业资源的残余负面影响仍然存在。因此，这些难民企业家面临一把双刃剑。尽管通过企业家精神挑战耻辱感可能会得到解放，但具有难民背景的人会忍受持久的结构性挑战对妇女创业活动的影响。这对创业潜力有影响，并且对脆弱妇女群体中脆弱的企业家身份的可持续性也有影响。