3 myths about momtrepreneurs
New South African research suggests that our assumptions about female business owners and family are way off.
Women entrepreneurs are all doing business between changing nappies to make pocket money? Right?
Actually no. That’s one of the myths busted by a recent FNB-sponsored study: The State of Female Entrepreneurship in South Africa, conducted by Wits Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurship. And nor are men trying to hold their partners back from business success.
Myth 1: Men don’t support women entrepreneurs
The survey results show that women entrepreneurs believe that their family, husband/partner support their entrepreneurial activity and it is good that children should learn about entrepreneurship. Less than 13% of their husbands/partners did not like the fact that they were earning more.
Myth 2: Women are in it for pocket money
Female entrepreneurs are serious about what they do, contrary to the image of a mom earning a bit of pin money through a small business. The idea that women entrepreneurs are only in it for incremental income for their families was debunked by the survey, with only 10% of business owners and 27% of start-ups agreeing with the statement.
Myth 3: All women entrepreneurs are married moms
The results showed that there are just as many women business owners and start-ups (50%) who have never been married or are widowed, separated or divorced. Thus, the idea that all women start business because they have small children and that they need to stay at home and look after them appears not to be the case. But the moms are well represented: 60% of business owners and start-ups do have children.
Which all just goes to show that women, whether moms are not, are a force to be reckoned with in business.
Are you an entrepreneur? And if you’re a mom or dad, how do you combine building a business and family life?