3 Reasons Being a Woman Entrepreneur Is Difficult
Being an entrepreneur is difficult. But do you know what’s more difficult? Being a woman entrepreneur. Throughout their lives, women have to overcome many hurdles. Not all women come from privileged households, and the struggle is more for them. It’s not like they cannot; they are not provided the opportunity, to begin with.
Women constitute almost half of the world’s population, and denying them opportunity is simply not utilizing half of the world’s resources. To reach economic stability globally, the potential of women needs to be capitalized.
In today’s blog, let’s find out the reasons why being a businesswoman is difficult.
1. Gender stereotypes
Women are often expected to prioritize family over their careers, making it difficult to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. So, once they finish their studies and get a degree, they need to get ready to manage a household. Undoubtedly, being a homemaker is a full-time job as well. But here, you are not financially independent.
We have a long way to go in a country where most girls drop out after high school. Although the government has implemented many welfare schemes for women, they continue to be perceived as less skilled than men despite acing every field. And these struggles only add up to difficulties in starting an organization.
2. Lack of support
Women usually receive much less support from their families and other entrepreneurs. When you want to set up your own business, you need help from your peers. More than financial support, you often need mental backing.
Entrepreneurs need to get the necessary mentorship to set up a business, and they need institutional support as well. Despite the social welfare schemes promoting female entrepreneurship, most women lack appropriate guidance or help from authorities. When they are unaware of the ABCs of business, their confidence is bound to be low.
Many VCs do not want to fund a women-led business. According to Harvard Review, women-led startups just received 2.3% of VC funding in 2020. As horrific as that sounds, this is true in most cases. Women-led businesses are not considered up to the mark or worthy of investing and are rejected. How will they become successful businesswomen?
3. Lack of role models
As many successful female entrepreneurs still need to be represented in the media and popular culture, it is difficult for aspiring businesswomen to find role models and mentors. It limits their ability to envision themselves as successful business owners.
When you see someone like you has achieved tremendous success, it becomes easier to place your goals. With most high-level businesses still dominated by men, it can take time to blaze your path and facilitate introductions and connections into some of the more elite business networks.
Despite these challenges, female entrepreneurs are making strides and breaking barriers every day. They are finding creative ways to fund their businesses, building support networks, and challenging societal norms. By overcoming these obstacles, they are setting themselves up for success and paving the way for future generations of female business owners.
Feeling inspired? Check out more of my podcast here.
Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Buzzsprout | Spotify | Apple | Google
