Family business women in media discourse: the business role and the mother role

Abstract

PurposeWritings in the media have the potential to influence our standpoint and, thereby, our actions. In this paper, the authors analyze how women in family business are represented in media to understand the frames set by this discourse in terms of women owning and leading family businesses. The aim of the paper is to explore how the counterposed roles of business person and mother are presented in media and what implications this might have for role enactment.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an exploratory study of 308 articles about women in family business over a 15‐year period. In the interpretative, qualitative analysis of media texts, the discursive construction of the mother role and the business role are explored.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights into how the mother role is taken for granted while the business role is approached as problematic in portrayals of women in family business. The authors discuss whether the media discourse reinforces traditional roles or stimulates role innovation.Practical implicationsUnderstanding role as something separate from the individual provides a means to critically review expectations of women in business and how these expectations hinder business activities.Originality/valueThe study examines data over a 15‐year period in the Swedish media setting and describes changes in attitudes about women's roles in family business. Regarding the family business as an arena for performative acts provides a perspective that can highlight the intertwinement of the private and professional arenas in family business.

Sex differences in entrepreneurs’ business growth intentions: an identity approach

“…In our case, dual identifiers, such as female entrepreneurs, are required very often to adopt opposing sets of cultural proscriptions where the masculine is prioritized over the feminine (Bird & Brush, 2002; Coleman, 2016). Bjursell and Bäckvall (2011) provided empirical insights into how the mother role is taken for granted while the business role is approached as problematic in portrayals of women in family business. Our results provide evidence that under high levels of independent self-construal, female entrepreneurs are not willing to grow their ventures as women in lower levels of independent self-construal.…”

Enacting Entrepreneurship and Leadership: A Longitudinal Exploration of Gendered Identity Work

“…Arguments have subsequently been made that this going against the grain of a male‐orientated worldview further reinforces stereotypes in respect of gender and entrepreneurship and encourages role conservation as opposed to role innovation. Alternatively, such an approach exaggerates role tension as an antecedent to entrepreneurial entry on the part of women and simplifies both its outcomes and its potential as a solution to issues of role conflict and/or tension (Bjursell and Backvall ). However, available discourses, whatever their character, stimulate, inform, and resource identity creation via identity work.…”

Women in management: Are family firms somehow special?

“…The proportion of female managers in family businesses is increasing (Barrett & Moores, 2009;Humphreys, 2013) and 33% of family businesses are estimated to be run by women in the United States (Sonfield & Lussier, 2012). The interplay between the private and professional contexts in family businesses can reduce the gender gap and enable women to take further leadership roles when they become familiar with the business (Bjursell & Bäckvall, 2011). In short, the lack of association of leadership with women may be smaller in family firms.…”

“…In fact, gender has been omitted as future research in the family firm domain (Al-Dajani, Bika, Collins, & Swail, 2014). Research on women in the family business is still small, fragmented and conceptual (Danes & Olson, 2003;Sharma & Irving, 2005;Vera & Dean, 2005;Jimenez, 2009;Bjursell & Bäckvall, 2011) especially on their involvement in top management (Cappuyns, 2007;Lerner & Malach-Pines, 2011). Initial investigations have focused on the invisible woman with predominantly passive and family roles (Bjursell & Bäckvall, 2011) and on the obstacles encountered by women (Dumas, 1989).…”