Issues and Challenges for Women Entrepreneurs in India
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN INDIA
S. BALASUBRAMANYAM*
Abstract
More than ever before, Change is the only constant in life, especially so in industry, and as a consequence, tremendous opportunities are opening up for women entrepreneurs. It is true that the presence of women entrepreneurs is very low in India, but you can look at it as another great opportunity riding on this all-pervasive change – and not as an obstacle toughening the entry barrier further for women in industry. Barely a decade ago, had few people anticipated that the proportion of women in call centres and IT industry would rise to be what it is today? Similarly, women as entrepreneurs can be a game changer and change the rules of the game in industry. Right now, women from upper class families are able to make the transition from homemaker to entrepreneur more easily compared to their counterparts from the middle and lower classes of society. The urban markets are buzzing with many women entrepreneurs who have won market space and mind space, recognition and awards. Any understanding of Indian women, their identity, their role-playing, and breaking the glass ceiling by blazing new paths, will be incomplete without a walk down the corridors of Indian history where women have donned multiple roles and responsibilities. The paper analyzes the status of women entrepreneurs and the problems faced by them when they ventured out to carve their own place in the competitive world of business environment. This paper also focuses on issues and challenges facing women entrepreneurs and offers remedies and strategies to leverage their role as change agents.
Introduction
Two decades ago, Globalization and information revolution, which ushered in a new era, has brought out a radical change that had comprehensive impact on the economic scenario of the developed and developing economies of the World. India, hitherto under umbrella of protectionism,
S. BALASUBRAMANYAM*
Abstract
More than ever before, Change is the only constant in life, especially so in industry, and as a consequence, tremendous opportunities are opening up for women entrepreneurs. It is true that the presence of women entrepreneurs is very low in India, but you can look at it as another great opportunity riding on this all-pervasive change – and not as an obstacle toughening the entry barrier further for women in industry. Barely a decade ago, had few people anticipated that the proportion of women in call centres and IT industry would rise to be what it is today? Similarly, women as entrepreneurs can be a game changer and change the rules of the game in industry. Right now, women from upper class families are able to make the transition from homemaker to entrepreneur more easily compared to their counterparts from the middle and lower classes of society. The urban markets are buzzing with many women entrepreneurs who have won market space and mind space, recognition and awards. Any understanding of Indian women, their identity, their role-playing, and breaking the glass ceiling by blazing new paths, will be incomplete without a walk down the corridors of Indian history where women have donned multiple roles and responsibilities. The paper analyzes the status of women entrepreneurs and the problems faced by them when they ventured out to carve their own place in the competitive world of business environment. This paper also focuses on issues and challenges facing women entrepreneurs and offers remedies and strategies to leverage their role as change agents.
Introduction
Two decades ago, Globalization and information revolution, which ushered in a new era, has brought out a radical change that had comprehensive impact on the economic scenario of the developed and developing economies of the World. India, hitherto under umbrella of protectionism,
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