Title: Gender identity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy

Authors: Jean-Paul Tchankam; Emmanuel Tchagang; Jean-Michel Sahut; Maria Giuseppina Bruna

Addresses: Kedge Business School, 33405 Bordeaux, France ' University of Yaoundé II, Yaoundé, Cameroon ' IDRAC, 69009 Lyon, France ' IPAG Business School, 75006 Paris, France

Abstract: Whereas entrepreneurship has historically been perceived as a masculine activity, inconsistent with women's traditional roles, this empirical paper diverges from this assumption, examining whether self-efficacy varies not according to biological sex, but rather based on (social) gender identity. This research seeks to determine whether gender identity influences students' reported level of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and consequently, their intention to start a business after completing their studies in Cameroon. A modified version of the Bem sex role inventory (BSRI) survey was distributed to and completed by 646 students. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to analyse the results. Contrary to expectations, the self-efficacy of androgynous individuals was found to be higher than that of masculine-typed, feminine-typed, and undifferentiated individuals, suggesting that Cameroon students today enjoy a more balanced perception (masculine and feminine) of the nature of entrepreneurship. This research-paper innovates, supporting more androgynous and effectively gender-balanced entrepreneurship behaviour.

Keywords: sex; stereotype; gender identity; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; developing country.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2024.142441

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2024 Vol.53 No.4, pp.425 - 448

Received: 30 Jan 2022
Received in revised form: 26 Jul 2022
Accepted: 27 Jul 2022
Published online: 31 Oct 2024 *

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