Equal Opportunity in Business: Gender Challenges and Overcoming Stereotypes

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of gender inequality of opportunity in business, including from the point of view of gender challenges and stereotypes. Inequality of opportunity in business is a problem that restricts access to career opportunities, including in the business field, for women. A study of women's entrepreneurship shows a rapid increase in the number of publications on the topic over the past 50 years. This area is in formation stage, with a significant number of journals’ articles, literature reviews and books published on women entrepreneurs. The purpose of the article is to assess the problems faced by women entrepreneurs based on an analysis of the existing literature. The search for documents on women's entrepreneurship in various peer-reviewed journal publications was carried out using data from the RSCI, GoogleAcademy, ResearchGate, Elsevier resources. The causes of gender segregation in business are shown, including socio-cultural prejudices, the existence of institutional voids, low self-esteem and the lack of skills and entrepreneurial education among women. A study of different countries’ experience led to the conclusion that state support plays a decisive role in the women's entrepreneurship development.