Understanding female students’ entrepreneurial intentions: gender inequality perception as a barrier and perceived family support as a moderator

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PurposeThis study aims to examine how entrepreneurial climate, gender inequality perception and self-efficacy affect female students’ entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions, with the moderating role of perceived family support.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected data from 466 female students studying at universities in an emerging economy, i.e. Vietnam. This study assessed the proposed relationships between the examined variables using partial least squares structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results reveal that entrepreneurial climate, as a stimulus factor, significantly influences organism factors, including gender inequality perception, self-efficacy and attitude toward entrepreneurship. Furthermore, gender inequality perception is identified as a barrier to self-efficacy, attitude toward entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. Also, self-efficacy positively influences attitudes toward entrepreneurship and both factors jointly predict entrepreneurial intention. Lastly, perceived family support moderates the relationships between entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents.Originality/valueThis study extends the extant knowledge about the factors affecting women’s entrepreneurial attitudes and behavior, especially in emerging economies. This study’s findings assist university managers, policymakers and researchers in developing effective strategies to reduce the adverse effects of gender inequality perception and promote women's entrepreneurial behavior.