Conceptual theoretical analysis of the Russian family business inheritance phenomenon in gender aspects

This work is devoted to the examination and analysis of the family business inheritance phenomenon, its emergence and specific system prevailing in Russia. The focus is made on the review of the most relevant and popular theories and methods used by the authors to study the position of women in the system of small family firms' inheritance, obstacles women face in the process of business transition to the second generation and the role stereotypical traditional Russian brought-up plays in these issues. The article concentrates on the "gender attributes" - inequality between male and female heirs both in administration of family firm and in the process of decision-making about the future development of the enterprise. The scheme of family business inheritance in Russia is one of the serious problems linked to both entrepreneurship and aspects related to gender inequality. Several theories can be considered the most relevant and practically used by sociologists and economists in different types of the research. This work analysis such paradigms, as: Systematic theory, which is focused on viewing the world in terms of the interrelationships of objects, such as"family relations" and"firm administration" with one another; so-called Agency theory aimed at examining and analysing the conflicts of interest between the owners and heirs of the previous firm-holders; Stewardship paradygm devoted to the specific combination of pshychological and contecstual fields. Moreover, the article contains overview on the issues, related to the gender disproportion in the system of the small business inheritance in the works of sociologists. The research based on several studies of "gender aspects", as well as inheritance and development of the family business in Russia, can display the increasing role of such issues in the works of sociologists in past decade. It can be also noted that both new areas for study and new types of methods used by the authors are extremely relevant nowadays. Research problems have acquired narrow and more precise focus - from the study of the family business phenomenon in general, to the description of relations between relatives and heirs of the enterprise. However, despite the increased interest of sociologists in these fields, the topic of women's position in the family business is still poorly understood. Further research is highly required on such aspects as the influence of upbringing and stereotypes, the construction of relations between daughters-fathers, as well as gender disproportion in the possibilities of administering their business.

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