Unraveling key factors enhancing female entrepreneurial performance in China: a pls-sem and fsqca analysis

This study not only illuminates the complex interplay of factors affecting the entrepreneurial performance of 558 Chinese female entrepreneurs but also significantly contributes to the burgeoning literature on gender dynamics in entrepreneurship. By employing a gender-aware framework and mixed methods, including Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), it breaks new ground in understanding the unique challenges and opportunities faced by female entrepreneurs. The identification of digital ability, opportunity development, entrepreneurial team heterogeneity, work-family conflict, and gender stereotypes as pivotal elements offer valuable insights for crafting targeted support strategies and policies to enhance female entrepreneurial performance (FEP). Furthermore, the study’s revelation of two distinct pathways to enhance FEP not only provides practical guidance for aspiring female entrepreneurs but also lays the groundwork for future research to explore the nuanced interactions between these factors.