Women Entrepreneurs from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

 


Source: Mint News

ABSTRACT  

This article examines the difficulties experienced by female entrepreneurs in India's tier 2 and tier 3 cities, with an emphasis on gender roles, cultural standards, and resource limitations. As women make up barely 20% of the workforce and have declined from 40% to 22.8% over the past ten years, the study illustrates how social and cultural norms affect women's entrepreneurship. Their advancement is further hampered by a lack of resources, discriminatory policies, and a lack of support from their families. The research emphasizes the need for government programs to create possibilities and financial support for women entrepreneurs, and it recommends for education, awareness, and communication as crucial instruments to overcome these difficulties. 

AUTHOR: Ananta Chopra (AFFILIATION: University School Of Law and Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University) 


INTRODUCTION 

Since time immemorial, working women have had to deal with a plethora of challenges. This research paper delves into challenges that cultural norms and gender roles prevalent in tier 2 and tier 3 cities pose on opportunities of women entrepreneurs. It is imperative that these concerns are addressed so as to ensure societal progression, gender equality and a prosperous economy . 

Successful women entrepreneurs can serve as agents of social progress and role models for girls to look up to. Factors causing hindrance to them must be tackled effectively in order to understand where they stem from. 

This research article analyses the following questions: 

1.) What are the factors causing hindrances to women entrepreneurs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities? 

2.) How do gender roles and cultural norms impact women entrepreneurs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities ? 

3.) What are the measures that can be taken to provide best opportunities to women entrepreneurs in these areas? 

BODY 

Indian companies have traditionally been male-dominated, with women accounting for only 20% of the workforce. The International Labor Organization ranked India 121st out of 131 nations in terms of womanish labor force participation. piecemeal from other issues, artistic morals and gender places dictate that women stay at home and handle family tasks. A. The statistics are disturbing; while male participation in the work force is strong, female engagement has been declining. Women's engagement in India fell from 40% to 22.8% over the last decade, according to the National Sample Survey Organization  

Gender Roles and Women Entrepreneurship  

With fixed gender roles, Indian society reinforces women's domestic and home duties, inhibiting any type of independent creative and innovative action for emerging as an entrepreneur. According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap report ,2023, India ranks 127th out of 147 countries ,which itself is a projection of the dismal state. This not only demonstrates a deterioration in contrast to overseas peers, but also gender disparities within India. It is expected that they be efficient in both duties despite juggling between them. It is past time for women to confront these discrepancies and cease acting like superwomen, which eventually compromises their production. 

Impact of Societal and Cultural norms 

Women's entrepreneurship can rely heavily on family support, which is influenced by cultural and societal conventions in a cascade effect. Women do not have the necessary support to take the plunge because of societal constraints. Social attitudes and influence impact women and men’s choices in life and since women entrepreneurship is broadly not accepted in most societies ,it is a herculean task for them to create a place in the male dominated industry. Women do not get their rightful share in land and other property as they are thwarted by discriminatory practices that consider women subordinate to men. Women frequently lack knowledge of their rights to land and other productive resources, or even if they do, they often fear negative consequences from their families and communities, even in cases when the laws and practices are fair. 

Paucity Of Resources 

Underdeveloped infrastructure and basic services of transport, electricity and clean water further limit women's access to resources and markets . A number of rural areas with low population densities lack easy access to business development services .When they do, women might not be able to use them because of poor levels of education and literacy, lack of time, money, or mobility, or because the services don't meet their unique needs. The pervasive absence of social safety and asset control limits women's opportunities to start their own businesses, partake in riskier but more lucrative endeavors, or hone their skills and safeguard their health. Rural locations are not home to many banks. Even while financial institutions has been established in many tier 2 and tier 3 cities to provide more access to microfinance, loans are rarely big enough to allow for the substantial expansion of businesses. 

Way Ahead  

In order to promote women entrepreneurship in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, it is imperative that 3 essentials are kept in mind. These include, Information, Education and Communication. Rigid gender roles , paucity of resources and societal and cultural norms are the 3 main challenges to women entrepreneurs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities . 

The most fundamental element that can bring about change is spread of education .Ignorance and lack of awareness leads to perpetuation of conventional gender roles that have been coming along since time immemorial. Spreading of awareness is a powerful tool to bring about change in mindset .This may be ensured by facilitating communication . Information about opportunities available in the entrepreneurship arena for women must be advertised in order to encourage them to pursue a career in this field .Further ,they must be informed about relevant schemes and loans of the government available to them .

It is imperative that women are encouraged to get a basic education, with an emphasis on business management, marketing, information and communication technologies , numeracy, literacy, and sustainable (agricultural and nonagricultural) production methods. Utilize experiential learning techniques to boost the confidence and leadership abilities of rural women. Combining women-specific programs along with policies for gender mainstreaming in all rural businesses must be ensured . Initiatives for development may also be launched. Further, it is important to involve representatives of rural women entrepreneurs in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all enterprise policies and programs. 

CONCLUSION 

In conclusion, the exploration of women entrepreneurship in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India revealed challenges that stem from cultural norms, gender roles, and resource constraints. The most fundamental factor that can effect change is the spread of education .Ignorance and a lack of awareness lead to the maintenance of traditional gender norms that have existed since time immemorial. Raising awareness is a significant method for affecting behavioral change .This can be accomplished via facilitating communication. The government may take steps to guarantee that there is proper. Information on entrepreneurship opportunities for women must be publicized in order to encourage them to seek a career in this field. Furthermore, they must be educated about relevant government initiatives and loans that are accessible to them.  

_______________________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES 

1.) (2010, December 27). https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/documents/publication/wcms_150832.pdf 

 

2.) Li, C. (2019, August 26). Impact of Gender-Specific Causes on Women Entrepreneurship: An Opportunity Structure for Entrepreneurial Women in Rural Areas. https://www.hilarispublisher.com/open-access/impact-of-genderspecific-causes-on-women-entrepreneurship-an-opportunity-structure-for-entrepreneurial-women-in-rural-ar.pdf 

3.) (2023, May 17). Government Schemes for Women Entrepreneurs in India. Bank of Baroda. https://www.bankofbaroda.in/banking-mantra/investment/articles/govntrepreneurs 



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