The gender gap in self-employment is one of the most resilient in labour participation. While for some, this gap is the result of women’s lack of opportunities to become self-employed, for others, it reflects women’s preference to stay in paid employment. This article investigates the motivations behind women’s decision (either from opportunity or necessity) to start a business in 17 European countries. Results from the analysis suggest that individual resources are fundamental in explaining women’s motivations to become entrepreneurs. The type of gender regime and the economic situation in their country also play a role in women’s decisions to start a business. Women are more likely to be driven due to opportunity in dual-earner gender regimes than elsewhere, and high levels of unemployment produced by the economic crisis have boosted women’s self-employment from necessity. These findings are discussed in relation to the gender gap in self-employment.

自营职业中的性别差距是劳动力参与中最具弹性的因素之一。对一些人来说，这种差距是女性缺乏自雇机会的结果，而对另一些人来说，它反映了女性更愿意继续从事有偿工作。本文调查了女性在 17 个欧洲国家/地区开展业务的决定（无论是出于机会还是必要性）背后的动机。分析结果表明，个人资源是解释女性成为企业家的动机的基础。性别制度的类型和他们国家的经济状况也在女性创业决策中发挥作用。与其他地方相比，女性在双重收入性别制度中更有可能受到机会的驱使，经济危机造成的高失业率使妇女不得不自谋职业。这些发现与自营职业中的性别差距进行了讨论。