Gender-Specific Challenges in Starting a Business in Vienna: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Bourdieu’s Theory of Capital and Cultural Context

Anett Hermann
WU Vienna University of Economics and Business

Abstract

This presentation examines gender-specific challenges in starting a business in Vienna by analyzing how unequal distributions of economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital shape women’s entrepreneurial opportunities. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of capital and embedded cultural contexts, the study addresses the guiding research question: How do structurally and culturally embedded capital inequalities influence women’s ability to found and develop businesses in Vienna? The analysis is based on 40 guided interviews with female founders from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, including migrant entrepreneurs, as well as mentors engaged in local entrepreneurial ecosystems. The material was examined using thematic qualitative analysis within a power-theoretical framework. The findings show that imbalances across all types of capital significantly constrain women’s entrepreneurial trajectories. In terms of economic capital, limited access to early-stage financing, the persistent gender funding gap, restricted investor networks, and reduced financial buffers hinder women’s ability to start and scale ventures. Deficits in cultural capital emerge through gaps in business literacy, technological skills, administrative knowledge, and, especially for migrant founders, language proficiency and navigation of bureaucratic systems. Social capital remains limited due to the lack of access to influential networks, strategic mentoring, and investor-relevant communities, often reinforced by social homophily and male-dominated ecosystems. At the level of symbolic capital, gender stereotypes, credibility deficits, and biased evaluation practices diminish recognition and legitimacy, particularly in pitching and investment settings. Cultural background and social origin further intensify these inequalities. Nevertheless, the study identifies resilience-enhancing mechanisms, including empowerment-oriented learning environments, women-centered peer networks, mentoring relationships, and strengthened entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Overall, the study demonstrates that women’s entrepreneurial barriers in Vienna arise not from individual deficits but from structurally and culturally embedded capital inequalities, requiring targeted interventions across all capital dimensions.

Presentation