Exploring gender dynamics in social economy entities: From cooperative principles to organizational outcomes

Social economy entities (SEEs) are frequently portrayed as organizations that promote gender equality, yet evidence on how these commitments shape management practices remains limited. This study pursues two objectives: (1) to determine whether gender differences exist in perceptions of cooperative principles, gender equality, work‐life balance (WLB) culture and organizational outcomes in SEEs, and (2) to explore the interrelationships among these variables through gender and management perspectives. Data from 113 Spanish SEEs were analysed using Student's t ‐test to identify gender differences and path analysis to examine the relationships among variables. Results reveal significant gender differences in perceptions of WLB culture and organizational outcomes. The proposed model shows that cooperative principles are associated with organizational outcomes and distinct gender‐based patterns in the relationship among key variables. Overall, cooperative principles positively foster WLB culture, which, in turn, promotes gender equality and, ultimately, enhances organizational outcomes. However, for men, WLB culture does not influence perceptions of gender equality, whereas for women, cooperative principles do not significantly shape those perceptions. These findings highlight the importance of addressing gender issues in SEEs, positioning them as potential benchmarks for advancing gender equality strategies within organizations.