Gender stereotyping effects on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and high-growth entrepreneurial intention

Purpose - The number of women choosing entrepreneurship as an occupation continues to grow. However, there are very few start-up high-growth ventures in traditionally non-feminine industries, such as manufacturing or technology. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the potential impact of implicit and explicit gender stereotypes on women's high-growth entrepreneurial intention, and to examine the role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy in this process. The authors aim to argue that there is a dual stereotype associated with high-growth entrepreneurship (HGE), which negatively impacts on women's intention and self-efficacy, thereby limiting their behavior in this arena. Design/methodology/approach - This is a conceptual paper. Through the lens of stereotype activation theory the authors call for researchers to begin examining these phenomena and to utilize more generalizable samples of entrepreneurial students in future research. Findings - The paper finds that by decreasing the masculine stereotype-related barriers associated with HGE and increasing women's HGE self-efficacy it should be possible to increase women's intention to engage in high-growth venture creation. Research limitations/implications - The paper has valuable implications for entrepreneurship educators and trainers. Practical implications - The paper offers specific and practical suggestions on how entrepreneurship educators and trainers can build women's entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Originality/value - In this paper, the authors bring together prior theory and research on entrepreneurship, gender stereotyping and social cognitive theory to provide a research agenda on the relationship between stereotype threat, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and high-growth entrepreneurial intention.