admin We are living in the 21st century where robots, AI, and the Internet are taking over the world. The best part of this ‘Technological Revolution’ has been that more women are the leading change-makers than ever before. We are finally observing a change in the gender-bias that has been ferociously practiced in the International Business Eco-system. Finally, people are fighting for women’s rights for equal opportunity in every area of living.
While this is a beautiful and extraordinary exercise of seizing their rights, there is a differenta and a sad reality to it–Women have not yet been subjected to the same respect and recognition, which men have even after getting past the second decade of the 21st century.
We are here to discuss some of the problems women Entrepreneurs are still facing while being the spearheads of change in the business ecosphere.
1. Finite Financial Sources:
Women entrepreneurs had to make it through a shortage of funds as they are often considered less credit-worthy on the monetary basis and are often passed an opportunity for the same reason. Also, patriarchy across the globe has made it hard for women to demand their rights in the property of their parents which leaves them no other major source of funds and they often have to fund their start-ups by taking loans from friends and relative which is a negligible sum in comparison to the monitory-privileges a man gets.
2. Stiff Competition:
Most women internationally are first-generation entrepreneurs and have fewer people to guide them. With all other already established challenges working against them, they have to face the already established entrepreneurs. The gender bias already works against women and the fierce competition doesn’t make it any easier. In most countries, women entrepreneurs don’t have organized setups which is also a negative point in their entrepreneurial journey.
3. Limited Discounts:
There is a lack of trust in women, in general, because of many patriarchal claims, which has led to lack of opportunities for women in the business environment and has made it hard for their enterprises to survive without external support. They are denied discounts on the purchase of raw material or are not provided with the same discounts provided to male entrepreneurs. They also have to face all these challenges in the limited finances they have which makes it all the more hard.
4. Gender-Based Family Ties:
In most countries, patriarchy has made it look like it is only a women’s responsibility to take care of children and family members and she can only pursue works related to the wellbeing of household. They are not allowed to be or looked upon as bread-earners. And when they break these social norms and try to create their own space, they are assumed to be taking care of the household while pursuing any other career. Their career has to end up as a side hustle for them. They need a lot of support from the male members of the family.
5. Denied Education:
In most under-developed and developing countries, women education and literacy rate is low in comparison to male education rate. This strengthens the gender-bias and makes it look like women are not supposed to enter into certain domains. This dents women’s self-confidence and makes entrepreneurship a rough ride for them.
6. Curbed Mobility:
In most developing countries, a single woman cannot rent rooms and offices on their own as they are treated with suspicion and distrust. They even have to face the humiliation of the officials which dents their identity as entrepreneurs and free people.
A Step Towards Equal Opportunities
Business for women is still a tough deal to get into but there are certain tried and tested measures that can help us make this society equal for all genders. We need everyone to be socially educated and not just technically sound. We need to eliminate traces of patriarchy from society because it is the root cause of all the troubles women have to face while carrying out business. We need governments to support women trailblazers by providing them with inexpensive products, counselling and therapy services, social security and other financial and nonfinancial assistance. We need families to support women in their business endeavours and we need corporative societies for women so that they can help each other. We want better rules and regulations in the way financial institutions treat women so that business amongst women is promoted. All these measures may take years to get into action and then more years to realise the thought of ‘Equality’, but once it’s achieved we are going to see a kind and prosperous society which is not based on gender-bias.
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