Are Men Better Entrepreneurs than Women?

That’s the Perception

The author of the passage “Are Men Better Entrepreneurs than Women? That’s the Perception”,
Scott Shane, reports the results of three academic studies that show the general tendency to view
men as better entrepreneurs than women. This perception, he states, explains the prevalent
gender inequality in this field, which makes it difficult for policy makers to overcome this type
of gender bias. Research has found that people evaluate the entrepreneurial abilities and ideas of
males more favorably than their female counterparts even if they present the exact same projects.
They are also more convinced with identical business plans proposed by males (than by females)
and readier to invest in them. Lastly, they are more likely to discourage a female than a male
inventor from launching her invention. In attempting to explain these findings, Shane made it
clear that they were neither due to the bias of males against females because the subjects were of
both genders, nor to the bias of older people because the subjects’ age did not make a difference.
It is, however, the preconceived image of an entrepreneur, part of which is being a male, which
is difficult to erase. (193 words)