The purpose of this paper is to explore how gender role orientation (GRO) impacts commercial and social entrepreneurial intention and whether value orientation mediates these effects.
Based on a sample of N = 112 entrepreneurs, we tested our model using path analyses with standardized regression coefficients and bias-corrected bootstrapped confidence intervals. Sex was included as a control variable.
The results suggest that masculine GRO has a positive direct and indirect effect on commercial entrepreneurial intention, and feminine GRO has a positive indirect effect on social entrepreneurial intention. There is evidence that these effects are mediated by entrepreneurs’ value orientation. Biological sex showed no effect on both entrepreneurial intentions.
Our findings highlight the importance of including GRO and further gender-related factors in entrepreneurship research. Researchers must continue to challenge stereotypes in commercial and social entrepreneurship, considering that characteristics such as value orientation are socially gendered.
Overcoming entrepreneurial stereotypes is a task for multiple stakeholders within society. We encourage entrepreneurs to reflect on their GRO and value orientation, while entrepreneurial educators should implement programs to facilitate this reflection and promote openness to change and self-transcendence value orientation. To blur gender roles, more feminine-oriented entrepreneurial role models are needed. We also urge policymakers to foster enabling environments for entrepreneurs, while recognizing gender stereotypes in entrepreneurship.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, our study is the first to link GRO and value orientation with commercial and social entrepreneurial intentions in one integrative research model. Thereby, the study contributes to entrepreneurship research by testing our model on a sample of real entrepreneurs and avoiding overly simplistic sex comparisons by focusing on GRO.
