Family Business as a Career Opportunity for Women

Women as managers and/or key people in family businesses are explored in this paper. Although recognized as generally very important players, the role of women is often defined as invisible in making important business decisions, supportive in traditionally men's business domains and is rarely adequately recognized and rewarded. Regardless, women find working for family businesses attractive and rewarding. We explore the differences in the views of men and women on issues in managing a small family-run business. Their attitudes on the roles of women, and general managerial and ownership issues, are surveyed. The findings support the paradigm of a feminine style of management and we pose the question whether businesses would be managed very differently if they were run by women.