Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Resilience and Gender

This study aimed to determine if there was a significant difference in the relative importance of resilience factors between male entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs in order to discover which elements are most relied upon by each gender. To do this, I identified various elements of resilience through a literature review and combined them into a survey. In the survey, participants answered demographic related questions, including a question about gender, prior to moving into resilience element rankings. I then completed a factor analysis to identify three distinct factors: Propensity for Growth, Adaptive Commitment, and Self-Regulation. A T Test revealed that there is a significant difference between men and women in the Propensity for Growth factor. Within this factor, four specific elements, Mental Wellness, Optimism, Social Awareness, and Reflection, were identified through a further t test as the cause of the significant difference. The results of this study demonstrate that female entrepreneurs should focus on skills pertaining to Mental Wellness, Reflection, Optimism, and Social Awareness as they develop entrepreneurial resilience. Female participants have demonstrated a reliance on these elements as they overcome challenges in business, making it important for women to focus on these particular areas more than what men do in order to be resilient in entrepreneurial activities. This study reveals that gender difference are present in entrepreneurial resilience and need to be address in any research related to resilience.