Anglia Ruskin Research Online (ARRO)
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

An unusual job for a woman? Female entrepreneurs in scientific, engineering and technology sectors

journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 14:57 authored by Lynn Martin, Lucy Wright, Zuleika Beaven, Harry Matlay
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand more about the conditions which foster certain women’s resilience in science engineering and technology (SET) entrepreneurship. The research responds to the so-called “leaky pipeline”, which sees progressively smaller numbers of women participating in SET at each developmental stage from training to employment, and asks why some women establish and grow their businesses while others are discouraged. Design/methodology/approach: In all, 15 female SET entrepreneurs, with businesses that had progressed beyond the initial start-up phase were selected from national databases. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and documentary records over a six-month period and analysed using both manual and software-based thematic review. Responses were mapped to bring narratives to the forefront, and were compared using relevant literature on emerging gender topics. Findings: Findings suggest that female SET entrepreneurs undertake a continual process of adjustment to cope with the perceptual tendencies of visibility, contrast and assimilation (Kanter, 1993). They make frequent allowances and/or arrangements for their “unusual” status within the industry. In overcoming limited opportunities for women in traditional SET roles, participants perceived assimilation in terms of becoming an “honorary man”, occasionally in attitude, but primarily via hard-earned proof of personal expertise. Originality/value: This research considers an under-researched group, dealing both with female entrepreneurship generally and women’s involvement in the SET sector specifically, and demonstrates the complexity of responses to gendered business environments. Increased awareness of the issues facing women in SET is vital in beginning to address the leaky pipeline.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

21

Issue number

4

Page range

539-556

Publication title

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

ISSN

1355-2554

Publisher

Emerald

Language

  • other

Legacy posted date

2020-04-03

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Lord Ashcroft International Business School (until September 2018)

Usage metrics

    ARU Outputs

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC