Entrepreneurship isn’t easy. A business owner has to take several risks, give it their all, and depending on the success or failure of their venture, reap benefits or face losses. Being in that position is both exciting and scary, and many would say it is completely worth the butterflies you feel and the sleepless nights you have.
Apart from these common struggles, unfortunately, an aspiring woman entrepreneur has several glass ceilings to shatter, familial sexism to overcome and many other gender-related obstacles to tackle.
Vanita married at the age of 21, right when she was young and full of zest to make something out of her life. Like many of us, she didn’t know what she wanted to do, but she knew she wanted to do something—including making her own money. But two years into the marriage, she had a baby and a strained relationship with her new family where she felt restricted. Almost 25 years and a makeup course later, she is full of promise but still short of becoming an entrepreneur.
“I didn’t receive much support in raising my children. My family discouraged me from starting a business. Years later, when I see young girls following their dreams, I feel that I should have fought harder. So here I am, starting a salon because I know I can do that,” Vanita expressed.
Familial sexism can really dampen your entrepreneurial dreams.
Women are expected to be the primary nurturers in the family
According to a 2018 study titled, ‘Socio-Personal Challenges Faced by Indian Women Entrepreneur’ published in the International Journal of Management Studies, many women entrepreneurs fail to find the energy, time and mental bandwidth to invest in building a business because they are forced to become the primary nurturers. The responsibilities of taking care of elders and children and running the household fall on women, instead of being equally divided.
“I met a guy on a matrimonial app and we hit it off well until he told me that his family wants a daughter-in-law who would not work—be it for someone else or for themselves,” Megha revealed. “He said his mother had several social commitments (read parties to attend) and she wanted someone to stay home with his ill grandmother,” Megha explained. “I want to start my own CA practice and this just left me shocked,” she said.
Excessive exhaustion due to managing multiple roles, the mental burnout from constantly having to prove themselves and being one mistake away from being deemed a bad mother or a wife, make many women unable to reach their full potential.
In Dil Dhadakne Do, Priyanka Chopra’s character is “allowed” to work, in Aitraaz, her character was expected to give up her modelling career to make babies, and in Band Baaja Baraat, Anushka Sharma’s character has five years to build and grow her wedding planning company before she is forced to get married. Even though in English Vinglish, Sri Devi’s character continues to remain motivated in her ladoo business, her husband doesn’t actively support her and often belittles her for it. Indian cinema has time and again, perfectly exhibited the struggles women face to make it due to familial sexism.
Gender-based financial struggles
To grow any business, you need to have capital investment. Unfortunately, many women experience a lack of funds to start their business because they rarely have property on their names that can be used as collateral for securing loans/funds. It means many women rely on their family’s support, which is often wavering, especially if they see women as not capable enough of running a successful business. Even many financial institutions often undermine women entrepreneurs, thus holding back generous funding.
Early familial sexism
Our society reinforces several gender stereotypes, right from our formative years of life. Boys are given toys of fighter planes, trucks, robots, etc. Girls are given dolls and the kitchen set to play with. Often, families encourage young girls to be soft-spoken, be interested in dressing up in pretty pink clothes, and stay in. As girls grow up, many parents fail to teach them to be financially independent or about business concepts.
With so much social conditioning, many women grow up to feel a lack of confidence when it comes to realising their entrepreneurial dream.
We need more women entrepreneurs
According to a study by McKinsey, India’s GDP can increase by almost 18 per cent by 2025 simply by giving equal opportunities to women. As per 2021 data, only around 13 per cent of small businesses in India are owned by women. With that, providing more financial support and learning opportunities to women is not enough. Even the sociological issues need to be addressed so that women do not have to feel so exhausted simply by dealing with stressors that are not even relevant to their capabilities.
As an aspiring woman entrepreneur, here’s how you can safeguard your dreams from familial sexism.
1) Educate yourself on financial and business concepts.
2) Conduct thorough market research.
3) Start saving money and find out institutions or informal sources that can give you seed funding.
4) Educate your sons and daughters on gender stereotypes, and ensure you give them equal opportunities.
5) Believe in yourself, and don’t feel guilty for sharing your home load.
Also Read: Small Business Loans: Types & How To Get Them