GENDER-ROLE ORIENTATION AS A DETERMINANT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) is often included in entrepreneurial intentions models to explain why some individuals are more likely than others to become entrepreneurs. An unsettled question among researchers is whether ESE differs between men and women. While early studies seem to suggest th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of developmental entrepreneurship 2008-03, Vol.13 (1), p.3-20
Main Authors: MUELLER, STEPHEN L., DATO-ON, MARY CONWAY
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgyny
Careers
Discriminant analysis
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship
Females
Femininity
Gender differences
Graduate students
Hypotheses
Males
Masculinity
Occupations
Researchers
Self employment
Self-efficacy
Sex roles
Sexes
Socialization
Stereotypes
Studies
Women
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Summary:Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) is often included in entrepreneurial intentions models to explain why some individuals are more likely than others to become entrepreneurs. An unsettled question among researchers is whether ESE differs between men and women. While early studies seem to suggest that men have higher ESE than women, more recent studies are inconclusive. Lacking empirical support for gender differences in ESE compels researchers to look for other factors to explain variation in entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The present study confirms two recent studies by finding no significant difference in ESE between men and women in a representative sample of MBA students. This finding leads to an investigation of gender-role orientation as a possible determinant of differences in entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Results indicate that the relationship between gender-role orientation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy is complex and multifaceted. Early in the venture creation process, the searching and planning tasks demand creativity and innovation where a strong mix of masculine and feminine traits (androgyny) improves performance. Later in the venture creation process, an individual (male or female) with a strong masculine orientation seems better suited for undertaking entrepreneurial tasks associated with persuading and leading others.
ISSN:1084-9467
1793-706X
DOI:10.1142/S108494670800082X