Abstract

This paper aims to present a review of recent research carried out by the Author involving a large sample of Italian family Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) investigating cognitive and cultural issues at the base of gender stereotype mechanisms. This paper also aims to discuss if and to what extent gender stereotypes are constructed and acted on both by perceivers (who apply the stereotypes) and targets (people who are perceived as belonging to the category at the base of the stereotypes) in Italian family SMEs, and how such stereotypes affect organizational strategic dimensions such as the second generations' educational path, organizational career, and business transmission (especially involving the mother and the daughter).