Authors : Sudath Tennakoon

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3k66frer

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yvjzkyrk

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb940

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Purpose: While Emotional Intelligence (EI) is widely praised as a critical competency for entrepreneurial success, this article argues that its utility is not gender-neutral. This review applies a gender lens to examine the implications under which high EI may generate unintended professional and psychological costs for women entrepreneurs. Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from 1990 to the present was conducted across major business, psychology, and sociology databases. Keywords included “emotional intelligence,” “women entrepreneurs,” “gender stereotypes,” “emotional labor,” “entrepreneurial success,” and “downsides of EI.” Findings: A close reading of the literature suggests that high EI can, in practice, generate a set of interrelated challenges for women entrepreneurs. These challenges include intensified expectations to assume emotional caretaking roles, an increased burden of ongoing emotional regulation within the venture, and persistent internal tension between empathic orientations and norms of assertive entrepreneurial leadership. Originality/Value: This article challenges the universally positive narrative surrounding EI in entrepreneurship. By applying a gendered lens, it contributes a critical perspective to the literature, highlighting that for women entrepreneurs, high EI can function as a double-edged sword, simultaneously enabling relationship-building while creating unique professional and personal costs. The review calls for a more nuanced understanding of EI and provides recommendations for future research, training, and support systems.

Keywords : Emotional Intelligence, Women Entrepreneurship, Gender Stereotypes, Emotional Labor, Entrepreneurial Success, Identity Strain.

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