Abstract

Due to employment instability and extended life expectancy, career transition became permanent, and an individual's active career attitude was emphasized. Female career paths are characterized by M-curve, glass ceilings, career breaks, and difficulties in work-family balance. Research on career transition as a process of realizing the self and finding meaning is needed. Entrepreneurship is one of the positive attitudes toward career transition. Gender strategies and entrepreneurship different from men’s can be explored in female entrepreneurship. This study is a qualitative case study of three female entrepreneurs in their 40s working in the film industry, examining their experiences and adaptation efforts in the transition process. In the film industry, the entrepreneurship of female entrepreneurs had in common that they extended their pursuit of meaning to their profession on the basis of the formation of their occupational identity. Female entrepreneurs overcame difficulties by expanding their responsibilities as entrepreneurs in the process of career transition and developed adaptation strategies that compromise while drawing lines with male-centered culture. Female entrepreneurs were creating their identity as 'female entrepreneurs' by having a vision beyond doing 'work' through entrepreneurship. Based on the results of the study, the necessity of longitudinal research on qualitative research results, a comparative study of male entrepreneurs, and development of a counseling program that combines feminism and career constructivism were mentioned as suggestions.