An Exploration of Androgyny in Indian Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract

The sign of a thriving economy of any country is the entrepreneurial performance of that country. Biological gender is seen as one of the critical factors impacting entrepreneurship behavior. A need for inclusive development has been extensively focused on in order to promote entrepreneurship in women. However, rather than biological gender, it is the ‘gender role behavior’ which is more relevant for finally expressed behavior. Androgyny is a balanced psychological identity that combines the social behaviors of both genders. Androgynous behavior increases the flexibility and adaptability of individuals as they have access to both behavior patterns based on situational necessity rather than being confined to socially dictated gender stereotypical behavior. This flexibility is imperative for entrepreneurs who have to constantly keep adjusting to environmental challenges. This study attempts to understand the ‘gender - role orientation’ of N=51 Indian women entrepreneurs who have fulfilled stringent performance criteria to qualify for participation in an entrepreneurial development program. Bem's sex role inventory (BSRI) was used for measuring the gender role orientation of these participants. 45% (n=23) of the participants had an androgynous gender- role orientation in this study. The number of years of entrepreneurial experience, type of business, external cultural influences and the stage of entrepreneurial venture, all had a role in the evolution of androgyny. The implications of these findings on entrepreneurship behavior are discussed from an Indian context.