Doing entrepreneurship, handling masculinity: Young women and gendered norms of entrepreneurship

Sammanfattning: In this thesis, I study how young women entrepreneurs construct entrepreneurship. Specifically, I look at how gender structures entrepreneurial practice for young women and how incubators contribute to the gendered construction of entrepreneurship. The study is based on ethnographic data in the form of interviews and observations. I draw on the theoretical concepts of “gender performativity” and “hegemonic masculinity” to argue that young women entrepreneurs construct entrepreneurship as a masculine gendered practice. Moreover, I use these concepts to show the form of hegemonic masculinity that is constructed in this context. Since women can experience inclusion and gain support by striving for these masculine ideals, I argue that young women handle masculine norms by moving away from an overtly feminine gender expression and, when possible, by adopting a masculine gender act. I show instances where women accentuate their difference from the masculine norm by emphasising their femininity. However, I argue that hegemonic masculinity is not challenged in these instances and that some of these examples are founded on the same essentialised gender identity that causes the marginalisation of women in the entrepreneur world. I describe and analyse a women-only event organised by an incubator and argue that this event does not address the structural marginalisation of women entrepreneurs and can thus be said to sustain it. I conclude the thesis with suggestions for incubators which they can use to improve gender equality in their organisation.