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Women Entrepreneurship and Performance

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Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economics

Part of the book series: International Studies in Entrepreneurship ((ISEN,volume 1000))

Abstract

Research on gendered performance in entrepreneurship is scarce, making the resolution of this issue a relevant research field. Chapter 7 starts by describing what we understand by performance, widening the concept from a financial to an operational or even a stakeholders’ satisfaction level. Next, we present some relevant research that suggests explanations for a gendered difference in entrepreneurs’ performance, mainly in terms of the existence of horizontal segregation, differences in size and in personal attributes of entrepreneurs. The discussion about gender differences in resource possession and accessibility is then introduced as a fundamental concern in this debate, by describing economic, human, social, and symbolic capital as inputs in entrepreneurial ventures. Finally, empirical evidence of the arguments provided by literature to explain gender-inducted differential performance is soaked in the data provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research program, one of the most widespread sources of information on entrepreneurial activity worldwide. According to the information gained through the GEM, horizontal segregation, lower self-confidence and less economic capital are characteristic of female entrepreneurship. Whether these features are in fact explanations for gendered performance keeps unanswered and remains a challenge for further research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The nine framework conditions are Financial Support, Government Policies, Government Programs, Education and Training, Research and Development Transfer, Commercial and Professional Infrastructure, Market Openness/Barriers to Entry, Access to Physical Infra-structure, and Cultural and Social Norms.

Abbreviations

GEM:

Global entrepreneurship monitor

APS:

Adult population survey

NES:

National experts survey

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultat d’Economia, University of Valencia, Av. de los Naranjos s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain

    Joaquín Aldás-Manzano, Clara Martínez-Fuentes & Manuela Pardo-del-Val

Authors
  1. Joaquín Aldás-Manzano
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  2. Clara Martínez-Fuentes
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  3. Manuela Pardo-del-Val
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Correspondence to Joaquín Aldás-Manzano .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain

    Miguel-Angel Galindo

  2. Fac. Economia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. de los Naranjos s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain

    Domingo Ribeiro

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Aldás-Manzano, J., Martínez-Fuentes, C., Pardo-del-Val, M. (2012). Women Entrepreneurship and Performance. In: Galindo, MA., Ribeiro, D. (eds) Women’s Entrepreneurship and Economics. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 1000. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1293-9_7

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