Challenges that women entrepreneurs face in Kenya

  

Date Posted: 11/20/2012 1:52:37 AM

Posted By: Viona  Membership Level: Silver  Total Points: 879

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The percentage of businesses initiated by men is far much more than those started by women. However, in the era of globalization, more women entrepreneurs have surfaced and brought their business ideas into light. In the modern world, women are using all their means to cement their financial and economic status.Women entrepreneurs have invested in various sectors of the economy such as trading, education, health, tourism and real estate.

Women face a lot of difficulties in their quest for entrepreneurship in Kenya. This mainly because of their gender.
Both existing and potential women entrepreneurs face the following problems.

Male chauvinism. Since time immemorial, our society has been a male-dominated society. There is and has been widespread discrimination against women. Women entrepreneurs are often disregarded and their work is demeaned by their male counterparts. Though there has been intense efforts made to advocate for women's rights, women are still not treated equal to men. For example, women have to get approval of their husbands or fathers in order to pursue some types of businesses. As a result, most women end up being confined in small businesses such as hawking and junk food peddling.
Family responsibilities. In most third world countries including Kenya, women are expected to be dutiful wives and mothers. Women play the primary role and have to perform day to day chores of the house. This makes it more challenging for women entrepreneurs who have to devote energy both at home and at their workplace. They have to strike a balance between work and family duties. This is a difficult role since men only play a secondary role in running home affairs. In addition, some women are victims of domestic violence which adversely affects their self-esteem. It also draws out the energy to work and pursue business related activities.
Lastly, widowed

women entrepreneurs find it difficult to pursue business due to victimization from the society.

Limited mobility. Women's mobility is limited as compared to that of men. This is due to stringent government laws which require the consent of the husband in order to process traveling documents. In addition, due to rising insecurity, women cannot move freely especially at night. Therefore, women entrepreneurs have to forfeit profits of night-shift jobs and close early.
Inadequate risk bearing ability. Most women especially in rural Kenya are educated. Others are economically unstable. These factors reduce their ability to handle risks in business. This therefore further hampers their full potential in undertaking business because ability to handle risks is an integral aspect in entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, we should acknowledge the effort of both existing and upcoming women entrepreneurs. This is because they can provide sustainable development owing to their natural endowed qualities such as care and love. Therefore, in light of this, women entrepreneurs require support. The government and other stakeholders should step in and look into the highlighted problems such as male chauvinism. In addition, the society should stop looking down on women as the weaker gender. Women are also at the helm of many economic affairs. Lastly, what a man can do, a woman can also do better.

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