Only 7 of 100 entrepreneurs in India are women, and of them, nearly half (49.9%) get into business out of necessity rather than aspiration, says a November 2020 report of the Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE). This survey shows how much women entrepreneurs are striving hard to be in the entrepreneurial sector.
The factor behind all this is visibility, which matters for women entrepreneurs as it helps them get noticed. When people can see what women are doing in the business world, they can appreciate their skills and talents. This recognition leads to more opportunities, like partnerships, investments, and customers. Sadly, all these benefits are left behind due to the lack of visibility for female entrepreneurs.
You would be eager to know why there is a lack of visibility for women entrepreneurs, so a few reasons are listed below:
Because it's not only the right time. It's about time
One of the major factors in her lack of visibility is that, being a woman, she has to be a multitasker, which leaves her with hardly any time to spare for herself. Women, whether homemakers or professionals, are expected to manage everything related to their homes and families, perfectly and at all times. After juggling multiple responsibilities, they are left with zero energy to prioritise themselves or dedicate focused attention to their business or its growth.
There is lack of digital knowledge
Nowadays, more and more people are indulging in shopping or making their purchase decisions online, be it through websites or social media. If a business doesn't know how to use these digital trends well, it's likely they’re keeping themselves in the dark.
Lack of digital skills or knowledge most often impacts women entrepreneurs and affects their visibility. They might struggle to make their business visible online. That leads to fewer people knowing about their brand or product. Which, of course, can affect the speed with which their business grows. So, a lack of digital knowledge can be a big reason why some women entrepreneurs aren't as visible as they could be.
Absence of opportunities for networking
Women often encounter obstacles in networking, particularly in industries where men hold the majority of leadership positions. And consequently, leaving them with fewer networking opportunities in order to be visible. Also, women face visibility issues as they might probably be shy or have issues with self-promotion or hardly have extra time for such things. Moreover, the scarcity of networking opportunities specifically targeting them, can hinder women’s capacity to establish meaningful connections and access vital support from networks for their professional development.
Legal and governmental obstacles
Women entrepreneurs in India encounter restrictive legal and regulatory obstacles, which may serve as barriers to initiating and expanding their ventures. The complex administrative procedures, the hard-to-handle registration process, and the absence of supportive policies lead to the visibility challenges for female entrepreneurs
Until women take steps and come forward, their visibility issue will prevail and keep hampering their progress in the entrepreneurial world. Also, when women entrepreneurs are visible, they can inspire others to follow their dreams and pursue their own business ventures. So, being visible is key for women entrepreneurs to thrive and make a big impact in the business world.
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