Seven in 10 respondents say men are better suited to succeed in business. Even 63 percent of women think so. And yet . . . there’s no particular reason. Of those who think men are better suited, less than a quarter say it’s because of “better skills and abilities.” For those who think women are better suited, it’s 70 percent! Moreover, respondents (especially business leaders) think that women have better skills in areas that are critical for success — organization, communication and interpersonal relations. In one other area, decision making, there’s disagreement, each gender believing equally in its superiority. 

What may be more telling are two tested traits, as opposed to skills: leadership and entrepreneurial spirit, both of which are thought to be more present in men than women.

But can they justify the characterization of men as better suited when other indicators suggest the opposite? Indeed, when asked about the actual performance of recent hires, corporate recruiters and business decision makers say that women in fact were better prepared. Consider also that nine in 10 people see women who pursue careers as generally successful.

So, are men really better suited for business success than women? Women who are judged by 90 percent of respondents to be successful when they pursue business, to be better prepared for success in business, and to actually perform better in their first jobs?

Maybe “better suited” is not really what we’re talking about. But, if not, then what?

Let’s look at encouragement, opportunity, and “having it all.”

The survey, to generalize, reveals that a majority of respondents feel that women don’t get enough encouragement to pursue business, enough opportunities in business, or enough mentors to help in their career growth. But perhaps most telling is that fact that more than 80 percent of both men and women believe that women could be more prepared to “have it all.”

Is it any wonder that women, absent sufficient encouragement, opportunity and mentors, even while being judged as unprepared to “have it all,” are seen as less suited for success in business than men?  

You may wonder: Did we ask whether men could be better prepared to “have it all”? We did not, possibly because numerous studies, including Bentley’s, reflect the understanding that family and other constraints hold women back more than men. Even so, 60 percent of men feel it’s getting easier for women to “have it all.” Women are less sure: Half say it’s getting easier, half say harder.

So it would seem to come down to this: Women are prepared and successful. But the deck is stacked against them in some important ways. Leading to the question: What can we do about it?