Title: Entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions: assessing gender specific differences

Authors: Andreas Strobl; Christopher Kronenberg; Mike Peters

Addresses: Department of Strategic Management, Marketing and Tourism, University of Innsbruck, Universitätsstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. ' Department of Strategy, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Kingston University, Kingston Hill, Kingston Upon Thames Surrey, KT2 7LB, UK. ' Department of Tourism Business Studies, MCI Management Center Innsbruck, Weiherburggasse 8, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract: The attitude towards entrepreneurship can strongly influence the probability of individuals to become self-employed. The mindset or attitudes of an individual to move into self-employment make up the foundation for future entrepreneurial activities. Former studies indicate differences between male and female perceptions or intentions to become entrepreneurs. This paper attempts to assess women's entrepreneurial intentions of as well as their attitudes towards being independent and comparing them to the male counterparts'. A survey among university students was carried out revealing that male students show more positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship and much more concrete entrepreneurial intentions.

Keywords: entrepreneurship attitudes; entrepreneurial intentions; gender differences; quantitative study; self-employment; female entrepreneurship; women entrepreneurs; male entrepreneurs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.046475

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.15 No.4, pp.452 - 468

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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