A new study by Columbia Business School Assistant Professor, Mabel Abraham, debunks the myth that women simply need to network more to access the same career opportunities as men. The study followed 2,310 members of a networking organization for business professionals, specifically examining gender inequality in cases where entrepreneurs sought colleagues to introduce them to a third party in order to build a business.
Biases still exist in networking, the research found, as female professionals are less likely to get referrals or connections for a new business because people still tend to favor men when making introductions. This was especially true in male-dominated occupations where female business owners received 27 percent less referrals that resulted in 27 percent less in revenue.
The gender treatment here has no basis in the quality of networks that women have as the study compared men and women within the same network. Additionally, women have the same potential for success when directly networking with an individual, highlighting the importance and the challenges that women have in gaining critical third-party referrals.
“Solely being in the same networks as men is not enough for women to have equal access to the same opportunities,” said Professor Abraham in a press statement. “In industries historically dominated by men like financial services, tech, and IT that rely on referrals for business growth or career advancement, the tendency for people to favor men when making these connections or referrals leads to men reaping more benefits.”
