Being seen as a legitimate and potentially successful entrepreneur in society. By definition, this is still more difficult for women than for men, says associate professor of Entrepreneurship Caroline Essers. ‘37% of all entrepreneurs in the Netherlands are women. Then it is only sensible for financial institutions to make their systems and products more female-friendly.’
These are just two examples of what women entrepreneurs run into in their daily lives: they are successful with their businesses but don't have the possibility to make serious networking calls. Or they submit the same business plan to the bank as their male equivalent and still do not get start-up capital. ‘Entrepreneurship is generally a rather masculine domain’, says Essers. ‘A domain that mainly represents white heterosexual middle-aged men. And that is not only a missed opportunity socially and economically’, says Essers, ‘it can also become improper and unethical.’ Essers: ‘If masculinity consciously or unconsciously dominates financial support or access to networks, it also contributes to exclusionary mechanisms. And that is problematic.’
You say: entrepreneurship is a fairly masculine domain. What does that look like?
‘By that, I mean the generally typical masculine characteristics, such as communicating in planful language, wearing conventional and business attire, keeping work and private life separate, joining the 'old boys network' and putting financial and individual success above the collective. These characteristics, unlike more feminine behavior, are usually more expected in entrepreneurs who are seen as successful. By definition, this makes it more difficult for women to be treated and judged equally as entrepreneurs as men. So successful women tend to be those who show just enough femininity, but also enough masculinity: a bit tough, rational, not too extroverted, and not too 'exotic'. There's a certain discrepancy in that, so you can never really get it right as a woman. I find that very unfortunate.’
