Women in family business research—What we know and what we should know?

Abstract

Gender in management is a widely studied topic. Since business families are social units and gender-based discrimination is entrenched in the social system, family firms are more likely to be susceptible to gender issues. Therefore, gender in family business offers a unique disposition for systematic exploration and scholarly inquiry. Using bibliometric analysis tools, we map a broader canvas of literature on women in family businesses, incorporating the literature from other disciplines, such as sociology and social psychology, that address the fundamental issues affecting the involvement of women in the family business. We uncover the state of research on women in family businesses, try and understand the drivers influencing their involvement in the family business, how family business behaviours and outcomes are influenced by the family women discharging different roles and responsibilities in business, and draw up a comprehensive framework that scholars can use to find the gaps in the literature.