Challenges of developing women entrepreneurs in modern India

We live in a man’s world. While difficult to accept, it is a stone-cold fact that puts women at a large disadvantage, especially when it comes to entrepreneurships and business which are traditionally seen as a male’s work. Even though the number of women entrepreneurs is steadily rising, there are still a lot of obstacles they have to go through. In addition to the typical challenges faced by women all over the world, Indian women have to fight against deep-rooted traditions and values as well. We have women exceling in every field today. Yet we see very few women entrepreneurs.

It all comes down to the patriarchal society of India. As compared to the previous years, there has definitely been an improvement of the status of women but it still falls behind when compared to the Western societies. The traditional mindsets entail that men are the breadwinners in the family which can hold women back from taking initiatives to start their own businesses. They can get largely discouraged by their own family members and peers who cannot see a woman’s worth. This can be apparent even in the upbringing of a child – male children are groomed to take on the father’s business when he retires while the female children are just helping out with, for example, domestic work. Even in well established large business houses, one sees that only the sons inherit the business and are expected to carry on the traditional business. The only instance where daughters are encouraged to take on the mantle of a family business is when they do not have sons. Why is there this bias? Why are women, no matter how well qualified are expected to take a back seat? Are they perceived as a life long liability?

Due to the aforementioned point, female children are less accommodated for when it comes to education. A large percentage of Indian women are illiterate. They are not seen as valuable as male children when it comes to financially providing for the family and, in fact, are seen rather as a financial burden. Early marriage too might put an end to the education of a woman because it is no longer seen as necessary for her to pursue further studies and a career when she has a family and, soon enough, children to take care of, which brings us to yet another point – familial duties.

Indian women are expected to prioritize family over work. They are supposed to take care of their husbands, children and in-laws while simultaneously completing their domestic duties in the house before looking at anything else. The demands from their family can stress out a woman who is considering starting up a business and can make her rethink her worth as an entrepreneur. Even women who have gone past these problems face the task of balancing their work-life schedule as they are still expected to continue on with their domestic chores. They also have to face tough competition from the more educated and experienced males.

Societal discrimination also plays a part. The Indian society tends to assume that females are not as competent when it comes to more risk-taking, aggressive and leadership-requiring roles. Women are socialized into being more reserved and soft-spoken and this is also what is expected of them. Religion and castes also come into play in societal discrimination; certain castes have more strict restrictions on females. A female from a rural area is even more likely to face such problems.

These values and beliefs can be observed in several situations. One example is that when it comes to raising capital, women entrepreneurs tend to have a harder time than male entrepreneurs. Investors generally give more consideration to a businessman than a businesswoman because they do not have as much confidence in a woman’s business.

Beyond all these challenges is one more of safety and security. With the startling number of crimes against women, including harassment and rape, rising, female entrepreneurs are faced with the daunting decision of possibly risking their lives when taking on jobs that may require dedication and long hours into the night.

Still, we can see women entrepreneurs facing and conquering all these obstacles. Notable Indian example would be Dr. Kiran M. Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Limited. Women in modern India have certainly come a long way when just years back, little of them were emerging into the business world. They have risen up from among the barely existing female business network and are part of the change for women. It is also comparatively far easier for the society to comprehend the notion of female entrepreneurs now. Female entrepreneurs are very essential to a country. Especially in India, a developing country, they will be of much help to the economy. Also, entrepreneurships may be a possible financial solution to dependent women if given the right opportunities.

Women simply need determination and persistence when facing such obstacles. It is only then can they emerge a surviving female entrepreneur in this man’s world. The changing values of the Indian society, or the world itself, will also further support the women’s march into business. People will soon be more accepting of women as an equal counterpart. Women should be able to rightfully take their place alongside men, in whichever field they wish to go into, whether it is traditionally a male’s job or not, and not have to face any sort of discrimination based on their gender. These challenges will simply propel females into entrepreneurships once they’re overcome and there are many examples of women who have done so. Gender should not be a criterion for success.

Every individual, organization and institution has to contribute towards the upliftment of women. They should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs and chase their dreams. Women who for ages have shown their skill, creativity and ingenuity working for others, should not face all challenges and establish their own brand. With the right impetus, I am sure women would excel in every field.