Challenging What We Think We Know: Theory and Evidence for Questioning Common Beliefs About the Gender Gap in Entrepreneurial Confidence

Abstract

Skeptical of prevailing depictions and recommendations regarding the gender gap in entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE), our aim is to raise and examine alternative interpretations and inferences. We question the common belief that women are under-confident with respect to entrepreneurship and whether this is a “problem” that needs fixing. The findings from two distinct datasets indicate, instead, that women are as likely as men to possess accurate entrepreneurial confidence, which is less likely than over-confidence to be associated with proclivities potentially detrimental to business venturing. Our analysis therefore calls for revised portrayals of—and suggestions for—the ESE of both women and men.

Entrepreneurship education and its gendered effects on feasibility, desirability and intentions for technology entrepreneurship among STEM students

“…, 2019). Recent research suggests that the lower level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy among women is not necessarily related to under-confidence in their abilities but rather reflects an accurate assessment of their expertise in venture creation (Jennings et al. , 2023).…”

“…The effect on the feasibility of technology entrepreneurship is especially important given gendered socialization that leads to occupational gender typing (D ıaz-Garc ıa et al, 2016) and reduced perceived self-efficacy among women, especially in fields perceived as gender-incongruent (Wieland et al, 2019). Recent research suggests that the lower level of Education and its gendered effects in STEM entrepreneurial self-efficacy among women is not necessarily related to under-confidence in their abilities but rather reflects an accurate assessment of their expertise in venture creation (Jennings et al, 2023). By giving an opportunity to engage in entrepreneurship-related tasks, entrepreneurship education builds confidence in students' ability to perform those tasks successfully in the future, such as identifying an opportunity, pitching a business idea or writing a business plan (Shinnar et al, 2014).…”

Behavioural Insights Into Cybersecurity Practices Among Digital Banking Consumers in South Africa

“…Various security measures have been proposed and implemented in response, such as using sms codes, One Time Password (OTP), mobile tokens and biometric characteristics (Alzoubi et al, 2022). Jennings et al (2023) and Nobles (2018) argued that financial institutions often prioritise technology to reduce risks but overlook human behaviour's impact. Furthermore, the scarcity of research papers on digital banking cybersecurity behaviour shows that this topic still needs to be explored.…”