Career Options and Entrepreneurial Potential among Female Graduates: Motivations, Obstacles and Realities

Abstract The objective of this paper is to contribute for a better understanding the perceived motivations, obstacles and self-employment realities in advanced technology sectors knowledge intensive-business. In terms public policies economic business, promoting female entrepreneurship emerges as factor mobilization women active life, well strategy support business initiatives, particularly conducive promotion equality between men women. However, according recent study on innovative entrepreneurship, one main that explains lower participation entrepreneurial activities an nature are related educational choices pursued formal education systems persistence traditional stereotypes about women, science innovation. Also, comparison men, not only possess lack positive attitudes their own personal capacities or inclinations starting businesses, but also have less contact with entrepreneurs. Empirical results based case project centred Portuguese University potential among graduates who completed course 2002 2008. Drawing upon information-rich evidence from in-depth interviews, insights presented order highlight important relationship intention social origin, field gender graduates.