Women Entrepreneurs in India Face  Recognition Struggles: 92% Agree

According to a recent report by the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, the gender disparity in entrepreneurship in India is striking. The report reveals that out of every 100 entrepreneurs in the country, a mere 7 are women.

Real Research, an online survey app,  revealed that nearly 85% of respondents were aware of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India, with 45.98% being vaguely aware and 38.96% being completely aware.

Highlights:

• 9 out of 10 agreed with the statement that women entrepreneurs in India face recognition struggles.
• 6/10 believe that balancing family and business responsibilities poses a significant hurdle for women entrepreneurs.
• 93.84% of respondents believe that male-dominated industries have significantly contributed to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in India

The report highlighted that “despite their efforts and expertise, female entrepreneurs often struggle significantly more than their male counterparts to achieve recognition and success in business.” Reflecting this sentiment, nearly 92% of respondents agreed with the statement, with 51.2% somewhat agreeing and 40.36% strongly agreeing.

However, 7% of respondents somewhat disagreed with this statement, while 2% strongly disagreed.

Barriers to Women Entrepreneurs in India

Respondents were asked to identify the primary challenge hindering the growth of women entrepreneurs in India. The top responses were “safety concerns” (19%), “sexism” (11%), “lack of social and institutional support” (11%), “balancing responsibilities between family and business” (9%), and “stiff competition with male counterparts” (8%).

Additionally, “low risk-bearing ability” (6%), “limited mobility” (6%), and “lack of funding prospects” (5%) were also noted as significant challenges.

Societal Expectations

Respondents were asked to what extent societal expectations impact the decision of women to pursue entrepreneurship in India. 40% responded that societal expectations impact this decision to some extent, while 31% believed it had no impact, and 29% felt that societal expectations really contribute to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India.

Women-Owned Businesses in India

Women-owned businesses in India often operate in low-revenue sectors such as apparel and beauty care, while men dominate more profitable sectors such as manufacturing and construction.

Based on the preceding statement, nearly 94% of respondents (consisting of  67.7% who strongly agreed and 26.14% who somewhat agreed) believe that the male-dominated nature of these industries has significantly contributed to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India. In contrast, 4% felt this influence was not significant, while 2% stated it had no impact at all.

The Balancing Act Between Family and Business

69% of respondents (47.28% who see it as a significant challenge and 22.1% who view it as a very significant challenge) believe that balancing family and business responsibilities poses a significant hurdle for women entrepreneurs.

Conversely, 24.44% of respondents do not consider it a significant challenge, while 6% believe it has no impact on the success of women entrepreneurs.

Future Prospects for Women in India’s MSME Sector

Finally, men own 80% of all micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India, while women own just 20%. The survey on challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in India revealed that 67% of respondents foresee an increase in women’s share in MSMEs in the future, while 33% believe otherwise.