Failure or voluntary exit? Reassessing the female underperformance hypothesis

Rachida Justo, Dawn R. DeTienne and Philipp Sieger

Journal of Business Venturing, 2015, vol. 30, issue 6, 775-792

Abstract: We reevaluate the female underperformance hypothesis by challenging the assumption that female-owned ventures are more likely to fail. Instead of equating exit with failure, we draw on exit literature and feminist theories to argue that female entrepreneurs are actually more likely than males to exit voluntarily. We argue for further gender differences by using an even more fine-grained conceptualization of entrepreneurial exit (failure, exit for personal reasons, and exit for other professional/financial opportunities). Post-hoc analyses also point to within-gender heterogeneity depending on family status. A sample probe of 219 Spanish entrepreneurs who had exited their business supports our overall reasoning.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial exit; Gender; Feminist theories; Family context (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (60)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:30:y:2015:i:6:p:775-792

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2015.04.004

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