Gender and satisfaction of basic psychological needs: an exploratory study of pottery crafts in Latin America

Purpose: This paper analyzes the relationship between gender and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs in the artisanal pottery sector in Latin America. Methodological design: We surveyed 195 owners/managers of small family businesses operating in artisanal communities in three Latin American countries: Mexico, Honduras, and Colombia. We used structural equation modeling to offer evidence of factorial invariance of the measurement instrument across genders. Results: We found that women artisans seem to be more satisfied than men in meeting their need for autonomy and competence, revealing an important benefit of artisanal activity. No significant difference was found in relation to the fulfillment of the need for relatedness. Research limitations: The limitations of this research are derived from the sampling method, which was mainly driven by practical, financial, and logistical restrictions rather than by theoretical criteria. Nonresponse bias may have also affected our results. Findings: It is important for the artisanal sector to find motivational factors that contribute to the continuity and development of the sector.