Gender and Export Propensity

This article draws on theories about the internationalization process of small– and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs) and feminist arguments to explain gender differences in export propensity. Findings are based on a large–scale survey of Canadian SMEs. After controlling for sector, firm, and owner attributes, female majority–owned firms were significantly less likely to export than firms owned by men. The implications for entrepreneurship and feminist theory, export policy, and research are considered.