A nudge in the right direction? Gender-informed support by female business-incubation managers for female STEM-entrepreneurs

Treanor, Lorna; Marlow, Susan

Abstract

This article critically analyzes the influence of gendered ascriptions and assumptions upon support offered by female business incubation (BI) managers to female STEM entrepreneurs. We draw upon the concept of nudges to illustrate how female managers guide female clients to behave, so as to navigate gendered challenges during the investment-readiness (IR) process. Using an interpretive ontology and social constructionist feminist epistemology, we draw upon in-depth, semi-structured interviews with female BI managers and female STEM entrepreneur clients. The findings illustrate that the gendered BI context encourages gender-aware managers to nudge clients towards behaviours congruent with prevailing masculinized norms, navigating rather than challenging gender-bias, to secure investment.

Citation

Treanor, L., & Marlow, S. (2024). A nudge in the right direction? Gender-informed support by female business-incubation managers for female STEM-entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2024.2362838

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 28, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Journal: Entrepreneurship and Regional Development
• Print ISSN: 0898-5626
• Electronic ISSN: 1464-5114
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2024.2362838
• Keywords: Gender; women; investment readiness; pitching; STEM entrepreneurs; business incubation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35715687
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08985626.2024.2362838