How female entrepreneurs build strong business relationships: the power of gender stereotypes
International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship
ISSN: 1756-6266
Article publication date: 26 August 2021
Issue publication date: 23 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Adopting a feminist constructionist perspective, this article proposes an analysis of the micro-level processes and dynamics of interpersonal, gendered, business relationships between female entrepreneurs, therefore constituting an extension to network theory in the women's entrepreneurship research field.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative research builds on a single, longitudinal case study of a successful, 15-years long collaboration between two female entrepreneurs. Qualitative data were collected over two years, through formal and informal interviews with the entrepreneurs, observations and complementary documentation. The data analysis is based on a grounded theory and narrative approach.
Findings
The article proposes a thick narrative of the evolution of the dyadic business relationship, and reveals the power of gender role stereotypes in its progressive formation and development.
Research limitations/implications
The article produces situated knowledge about female entrepreneurs and strong interpersonal business ties. The limitations relate to the specificity of the case analysed, representing the viewpoint of privileged, white, Western, educated and wealthy female entrepreneurs. It therefore does not account for the diversity of women's entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
The article enriches and extends social network theory in the women's entrepreneurship field through analysing how gender is done in discursive and social practices at the interpersonal level. The case also constitutes an illustration of social feminism in women's entrepreneurial practice, challenging dominant gender stereotypes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thanks Teresa Nelson for nominating the author for this Legacy Special Issue and Colette Henry for including the author in this project. The author is extremely grateful to the two amazing women with whom the author had the chance to meet and interview throughout this project.
Citation
Constantinidis, C. (2021), "How female entrepreneurs build strong business relationships: the power of gender stereotypes", International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 259-274. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-11-2020-0185
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited