‘Benevolent sexism’ in startups widens the gender gap by advantaging men over women

Women continue to face barriers in entrepreneurship, with only 17 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses being owned by women in Canada.To address this issue, the Canadian government has introduced the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. This strategy seeks to address the gender gap and biases in the Canadian venture capital system.However, our understanding of the challenges women face in the startup ecosystem is limited. Past research has focused on overt negative sexist attitudes that question women’s competence and suitability for entrepreneurship.This view overlooks the existence of more subtle, yet pervasive and socially acceptable, sexist attitudes that often go unnoticed. Given the sheer number of people interested or working in startups today, from investors to suppliers to job applicants, the effects of these subtle forms of sexism can accumulate across a large and diverse group of decision-makers.For initiatives tackling gender inequality in entrepreneurship to be effective, we must gain a deeper understanding of the effects of these subtle biases faced by women entrepreneurs.Benevolent sexism in entrepreneurshipBenevolent sexism is a form of bias that, on the surface, appears to be positive toward women, but ultimately reinforces gender roles and entrenches inequality.Unlike overtly hostile forms of discrimination, benevolent sexism manifests in seemingly harmless beliefs. This type of sexism often portrays women as delicate or in need of protection, while men are positioned as the providers and protectors.Because benevolent sexism is often expressed in ways that seem positive, it is rarely challenged by either men or women. It can serve to maintain traditional gender dynamics by creating the illusion of support for women while still restricting their autonomy.

Source: ‘Benevolent sexism’ in startups widens the gender gap by advantaging men over women