The interaction between culture and sex in the formation of entrepreneurial intentions

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the effect of an interaction between culture and sex on the formation of entrepreneurial intentions, while building on notions of a cultural construction of gender. The study adopts the theory of planned behaviour as the setting for such exploration, as it has been proven to be robust across national contexts. The analysis is based on survey data collected from business students in Norway and Turkey. Both countries were selected as two distinct and opposite cultural constellations in accordance with the dissatisfaction approach to entrepreneurship. Turkey representing a relatively masculine, high power distance, uncertainty avoiding and collectivistic society; while Norway representing the opposite. Results show that Turkish students, regardless of sex, exhibit significantly higher levels of entrepreneurial intentions and self-efficacy. Male students, regardless of national background, exhibit higher levels of entrepreneurial intentions, self-efficacy and social norms. Finally, our study shows that the extent to which males differ from females in terms of their entrepreneurial intentions is contingent on the national cultural context from which they originate.

Keywords::

• entrepreneurial intentions
• culture
• sex
• gender
• Turkey
• Norway

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to first thank the anonymous reviewers for their professional, constructive and helpful feedbacks throughout the revision process of this paper. We also wish to thank research fellow Burak Tunca for his contributions and assistance in developing the paper. Final thanks go to many who have helped us with repeated proof-reading, and in particular to research fellow Lisa Whitehead, who has been instrumental in this effort.