Why do women form more ineffective professional networks than men?

Previous scientific studies have identified gender differences in the size and quality of professional networks. Women therefore build fewer connections overall and tend to have less influential and less powerful network partners, which gives them a structural disadvantage.

“As a woman you do everything right – and still you are slowed down”

Åsa Regnér

The study shows that not only the external barrier to the structural exclusion of women from power networks, but also intrinsic barrier of women themselves exploiting social relationships is central to answering the research question mentioned. In line with earlier studies, the analysis shows the existence of structural exclusion for women from networks as a result of the conflict between work and family life and of social homophilia.

In other words: women are still much more time-consuming in doing housework and are still confronted with closed men’s networks (so-called “old boys clubs”).