Are we missing out on the talents of half our potential workforce? We’ll only know for sure when more women are employed.
An eye-opening report by the Supreme Council for Women shows that we are falling behind when it comes to unemployment, with the percentage rising and fewer vacancies reserved for women.
A great way to combat this issue would be to empower more women entrepreneurs who can, in turn, employ a greater number of women. Though statics in Bahrain show that we have more women applying for commercial registration—an increase of 37.01% over the period of 2007-2011, rising from 23,301 to 31,925—a woman is still less likely to want to start a business than a man. Women generally have less confidence in their ability to start up, and hold lower expectations for the businesses they do end up founding. What is the deal here? Why are women holding back?
Timing is an issue, with women more likely to consider having children between the ages of 25 and 34—the time when most men start planning the businesses they want to initiate.
“studies have shown that men feel they have the capability to start a business, while women are not nearly as positive.
For women and men with the same back background in education and training, studies have shown that men feel they have the capability to start a business, while women are not nearly as positive. Once their businesses have been established, men can overcome the fear of a starting up over time, while women develop a deeper sense of fear for their businesses that increases with age.
Established entrepreneurs should see it as their duty to act as role models in our society. Women’s networks are smaller and tend to focus upon on friends and family, while men are more likely to know or meet a male entrepreneur who can act as an inspiration and role model for a startup. With more women entrepreneurs becoming active and sharing their success stories, a greater number of women feel they can do it, too.
Women are also more likely to limit their success by choosing businesses that are consumer-focused and have less growth potential than service-based businesses, which can grow at a much faster rate over time.
“It disheartens me to see women putting themselves down and not believing in themselves and their own abilities. We need to act big and dream big.
It disheartens me to see women putting themselves down and not believing in themselves and their own abilities. We need to act big and dream big. Sourcing women mentors to act as our role models is a great way for us to believe in our capabilities and ourselves. Financing women-owned startups would be a great way to start a domino effect, as well.
Entrepreneurship programs dedicated to women are another way to educate them about the conditions of business, and they can provide tools, advisory services, and networking opportunities to prepare for the journey ahead. Just providing training in skill sets is not enough; many women lack belief and confidence in their skills, so bundling services that develop a supportive environment in which women can succeed is crucial. Encouraging more women to pursue business is the most effective means of decreasing unemployment and promoting women’s economic growth. I look forward to seeing more initiatives launched by associations, organizations, and private businesses that can provide a platform to increase the number of women entrepreneurs and decrease unemployment among women.
