Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Gendered Social Dynamics in Fintech Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Chavez, Sofia LU and Duindam, Fei Fei LU (2025) ENTN19 20251
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
While fintech is often promoted as a disruptive and inclusive sector, evidence shows gender disparities from within its ecosystem involving leadership, the foundation of teams, venture creation, and investment networks. Our study draws on social capital and role congruity theories to investigate how gendered exclusions are produced and sustained through social dynamics in the fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems. Using qualitative and interpretivist research, the study is based on ten semi-structured interviews with founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders across the fintech scene. Our thematic analysis reveals three interrelated patterns: gatekeeping through homophilic networks, gendered perceptions of legitimacy and passive... (More)
While fintech is often promoted as a disruptive and inclusive sector, evidence shows gender disparities from within its ecosystem involving leadership, the foundation of teams, venture creation, and investment networks. Our study draws on social capital and role congruity theories to investigate how gendered exclusions are produced and sustained through social dynamics in the fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems. Using qualitative and interpretivist research, the study is based on ten semi-structured interviews with founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders across the fintech scene. Our thematic analysis reveals three interrelated patterns: gatekeeping through homophilic networks, gendered perceptions of legitimacy and passive maintenance of inequality. Gatekeeping and Gendered Access, on how gendered homophily and network gatekeeping limit women’s entry into inner circles; Perception of Legitimacy Framing, on how gender stereotypes influence legitimacy attributions, reinforcing male normative leadership structures; and Passive Maintenance, on how awareness of gendered access and legitimacy building often remain the same without disrupting systemic norms. Our findings reveal that gender inequality in fintech is not solely a product of formal barriers but emerges from social capital reproduction and exclusions integrated within the existing structure. The study contributes to the literature by integrating homophily, social capital and role congruity theories with the triple glass ceiling as an overarching concept, offering a meso-level understanding of how systematic gender disadvantage is reproduced within the fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Chavez, Sofia LU and Duindam, Fei Fei LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A qualitative study on the impact of gendered social dynamics in fintech‬‭ entrepreneurial ecosystems
course
ENTN19 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Fintech, Gender Inequality, Social Dynamics, Social Capital, Role Congruity, Homophily, Network Access, Legitimacy, Triple Glass Ceiling.
language
English
additional info
This was a thesis uploaded for administrative purposes. It is an ongoing work to be finalized before July 2025.
id
9195320
date added to LUP
2025-06-23 09:59:36
date last changed
2025-06-23 09:59:36
@misc{9195320,
  abstract     = {{While fintech is often promoted as a disruptive and inclusive sector, evidence shows gender disparities from within its ecosystem involving leadership, the foundation of teams, venture creation, and investment networks. Our study draws on social capital and role congruity theories to investigate how gendered exclusions are produced and sustained through social dynamics in the fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems. Using qualitative and interpretivist research, the study is based on ten semi-structured interviews with founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders across the fintech scene. Our thematic analysis reveals three interrelated patterns: gatekeeping through homophilic networks, gendered perceptions of legitimacy and passive maintenance of inequality. Gatekeeping and Gendered Access, on how gendered homophily and network gatekeeping limit women’s entry into inner circles; Perception of Legitimacy Framing, on how gender stereotypes influence legitimacy attributions, reinforcing male normative leadership structures; and Passive Maintenance, on how awareness of gendered access and legitimacy building often remain the same without disrupting systemic norms. Our findings reveal that gender inequality in fintech is not solely a product of formal barriers but emerges from social capital reproduction and exclusions integrated within the existing structure. The study contributes to the literature by integrating homophily, social capital and role congruity theories with the triple glass ceiling as an overarching concept, offering a meso-level understanding of how systematic gender disadvantage is reproduced within the fintech entrepreneurial ecosystems.}},
  author       = {{Chavez, Sofia and Duindam, Fei Fei}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Gendered Social Dynamics in Fintech Entrepreneurial Ecosystems}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}