Masculinity Contest Culture in Startups: A Quantitative Study on Prevalence

Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities in the 21st Century

Year: 2024

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Masculinity Contest Culture in Startups: A Quantitative Study on Prevalence

Berit Sandberg

 

ABSTRACT:

Startups are often praised for their innovative power and dynamic work environments, but also criticized for workplace cultures that perpetuate traditional masculine norms of competitiveness, workaholism, emotional resilience, and strength. This study examines the prevalence of Masculinity Contest Culture (MCC) in German startups. Using the Masculinity Contest Culture scale, data were collected from 101 participants from different startups. Results indicate an overall low prevalence of MCC, with slightly higher scores for strong commitment to work. No significant differences were found based on the gender of the participants or the gender composition of the work environment. In addition, the presence of female founders and supervisors did not significantly affect MCC scores. Contrary to other studies on masculinity in startups, these findings suggest that MCC is not embedded in startup culture. The negligible effect of gender dynamics contradicts the underlying hypothesis that male dominance is a key driver of MCC. The study highlights the need for further research to explore other factors that may contribute to startup workplace culture.

keywords: gender dynamics, organizational behavior, work environment, workplace culture, toxic masculinity