Overcoming the Segregation/Stereotyping Dilemma

Abstract

The fastest recent growth in women-owned firms has been in traditionally male industries such as telecommunications and construction. This development has increased the importance of cross-sex networking to women professionals and entrepreneurs. Women business owners (particularly those working in traditionally male sectors) may be hindered in their efforts to build collaborative relations with male ties because of gender stereotyping. As a response, women may elect to join all-female networks, but because women in male-dominated sectors are relatively scarce, this strategy reduces access to resources. This paper suggests that virtual networking via web pages, email, chat rooms, and networking sites can provide a solution for women in male dominated contexts stuck in a ‘segregation/stereotyping bind’. Additionally, virtual communities can provide access to a very large number of diverse others and network maintenance is substantially easier than face-to-face interaction.