The existing data regarding gender and innovation show that women are less likely to carry out technologically based product and process innovations than men. We present some empirical evidence for Germany and propose several conceptual explanations for these findings. With this, we contribute to explain genderdependent differences regarding innovative behaviour based on the different context factors that foster and perpetuate, for example, traditional role expectations. These role expectations – among other aspects of the institutional framework (in particular with regard to tax and family policies) - have an impact on the development of various individual preferences regarding educational and professional choices and vice versa. Based on our exploratory evidence, we conclude that women are not less innovative as such but that a combination of institutional constraints and traditional role models contributes to them self-selecting into female-typed professions and working structures, such as parttime work.
External publication | 2016 Women’s innovation in Germany – empirical facts and conceptual explanations
Bijedić, T.; Brink, S.; Ettl, K.; Kriwoluzky, S.; Welter, F. (2016): Women’s innovation in Germany – empirical facts and conceptual explanations, in: Alsos, G.A.; Hytti, U.; Ljunggren, E. (Hrsg.): Research Handbook on Gender and Innovation, Cheltenham et al., S. 51-71.