Clearing the Hurdles: Women Building High-Growth Businesses

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OMEN

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NTREPRENEURS

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HALLENGES

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venture capital investing or entrepreneurship has a major impact on

their expectations and perceptions for venture-funded businesses.

From these five general factors—parents, peers, education, media,

and work experience—conflicting expectations for women and their

roles emerges. More often than not, women are socialized to pursue

education and careers that are less financially oriented, to have lower

aspirations, seek lower level jobs, or create businesses in service sec-

tors. In addition, expectations for a primary role in family responsibili-

ties continue. By contrast, the behaviors associated with successful

entrepreneurship are encouraged in men, and celebrated by the media.

The expectations ...