A Harvard, MIT, and Wharton study has revealed that venture capital pitches voiced by men were more than twice as likely to secure funding as identical pitches voiced by women.
Is this due to gender role stereotyping that perceives women as less prone to take risks? For generations, women have been deemed biologically more risk-averse than men – but is that really the case? The myth stems from the outdated notion that risk-taking is inherently masculine, with traditional studies often framing risk through a narrow male-centric lens.
“If you ask people ‘how likely would you be to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet?’ then, surprise, surprise, men are more likely than women to say they will do that. But if you ask people how likely they would be to go horseback riding, or engage in cheerleading, which are also very physically dangerous sports, then the gender differences reverse,” — says Thekla Morgenroth, a psychology professor at Purdue University.
To challenge the narrative, the firm VIP Grinders has recently worked with Niloufar Esmaeilpour, registered clinical counsellor and founder of Lotus Therapy, to explore how women are not actually less risk-averse – they are possibly more risk-aware and, in fact, strategic risk-takers.
This arises because traditionally defined risks often overlook the complex, high-stakes decisions women make – like starting a business while raising a family or undergoing cosmetic surgery. No significant gender differences were found in risk-taking at work, according to a 2022 study.
In addition, research shows that female executives are often more likely than their male peers to invest in long-term, high-stakes projects.
Breaking the myth: Women are strategic risk-takers
Traditional studies define risk too narrowly
The theory that women are more risk-averse than men has been cemented by decades of economic and psychological studies that define risk through a narrow, male-centric lens, focusing on behaviours like extreme sports or competitive physical challenges. What’s often overlooked is that women do take risks – just different kinds. These are often calculated, strategic, and come with broader, long-term implications.
Women’s high-stakes choices are overlooked
Decisions like undergoing cosmetic surgery or launching a business while raising a family involve significant, multifaceted risks – physical, emotional, financial and social. Yet, these kinds of high-stakes decisions are rarely acknowledged in traditional risk research.
New research shows no gender gap in risk-taking at work
A 2022 study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly found no significant gender differences in workplace risk-taking, with another Journal of Business Research study revealing that female executives are often more willing than their male counterparts to invest in long-term, high-stakes projects like R&D and capital expenditures. These aren’t guaranteed wins – they carry substantial financial risk and delayed returns, but are critical for long-term growth. The takeaway is clear: Women aren’t risk-averse, they’re risk-smart.
Women approach risk with a long-term strategy
“In my work with professional women in high-stakes careers – from entrepreneurs, founders to corporate executives – I witness women taking enormous risks daily. Yet often calculated risks. For instance, a woman CEO might decide to shift a company’s focus from short-term profits to long-term R&D,” says Niloufar.
While this decision may not seem flashy or reckless, it is incredibly bold, especially considering the pressures from investors and shareholders. Women often consider the downstream effect of their decisions – how they affect team dynamics, organisational culture, or even the ethical consequences. This nuanced, multifaceted approach to risk is not a sign of timidity, but of strategic depth.
Structural pressures shape how women take risks
Women are often under the microscope and held to different standards, especially in leadership roles. A 2019 Harvard Business Review article noted that female leaders are more likely to be penalised for failure. What may appear as caution is often a smart, calibrated response to these uneven expectations, balancing risk with the need to protect morale, manage culture, and meet societal demands.
In a follow-up article, key women who take risks are highlighted in a companion study.
