Gendered Identity Politics: Stereotypes And Role Models Of Women Entrepreneurs In China And France

This study tries to understand in which ways stereotypes negatively affect women’s development and thus wonder if it is possible to develop an identity that is resilient to these gendered stereotypes. The study first looks at theoretical approaches to stereotypes and identity politics for women. It is established that stereotypes can restrain women’s freedom by limiting the way they perceive their future path and ambitions, through self-criticism, demotivation and disengagement. The study also considers stereotypes within structures of power-relations which define standards of acceptance and exclusion, and shows that stereotyping discourses determine women’s identity. Then, the study wonders how this theoretical framework applies to female entrepreneurs — who have been considered has women challenging stereotyping structures in certain social contexts. It is found that stereotypes pressurise female entrepreneurs to adapt to one mould, which causes women who do not fit this model to be overlooked as entrepreneurs by society — denying them the freedom to develop their identity as such. The study’s solution to counteract the negative effect of stereotypes is the development of role models. It is argued that because women entrepreneurs essentially represent resilience and resistance in the face of sexist stereotypes given the implications of entrepreneurial life, they inevitably become role models, regardless of their different paths and individual identities. Apart from showing women they can confidently follow their ambitions, role models are also vital in today’s society because they create new dynamisms within power-relations. Female entrepreneur role models promote notions of empowerment and collective power distinct from that of men’s power-play and control. Therefore, through the promotion of this new definition of power, role models influence the transformation of the social structure in ways which do not foster stereotyped discourses and enable women to develop their identity freely.