Understanding gender, creativity, and entrepreneurial intentions

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex relationships between gender and entrepreneurial intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a two study design where the second study is a constructive replication of the first study. The first study uses a cross-sectional design, while the second uses a design where data collection of variables were temporally separated. The analysis is conducted using Hayes (2014) process macro using 1,000 bootstrapped draws to understand the interaction between gender and creativity and the potential mediation involving life roles and goals.

Findings

The empirical results are threefold. First, the results show that creativity has a direct and positive effect on entrepreneurial intentions. Second, gender did not have a direct effect on entrepreneurial intentions, and finally, gender showed an interaction with creativity such that in both the samples, creativity had a stronger relationship with intentions among women.

Practical implications

The results point to the inclusion of creativity exercises in the entrepreneurship curriculum as well as to create and tailor programs to enhance women’s entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

Using a two study constructive replication approach, this study demonstrates the complex effect of gender on entrepreneurial intentions. Traditionally, women are argued to have lower entrepreneurial intentions, but this study finds that creative women were more likely to have entrepreneurial intentions in the sample. The results also show that the women’s family salience (life roles and goals) did not mediate the relationship between gender and entrepreneurial intentions.

Citation

Smith, R.M., Sardeshmukh, S.R. and Combs, G.M. (2016), "Understanding gender, creativity, and entrepreneurial intentions", Education + Training, Vol. 58 No. 3, pp. 263-282. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-06-2015-0044