Gender Differences in the Evolution of Haute Cuisine Chef´s Career

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article reviews gender differences in the career paths of successful chefs, including barriers, success factors, and the entrepreneurial path. The research was developed in 2016–17, using an international survey carried out in Spain, France, and the United States among culinary students, cooks, and chefs who responded to a structured questionnaire based on pre-selected topics. The results show that a chef’s career requires various sets of skills. They should be leaders, mentors, and entrepreneurs. They work in a hard and competitive environment where building their brand and achieving public recognition is a must. Their professional satisfaction depends on learning, evolving, and launching their restaurant. There were two main differences between the sample of women chefs and the general sample of chefs: they required more mentoring, and they achieved greater job satisfaction when they were self-employed.