Why We Love Our Mothers and Female Entrepreneurs (And You Should, Too!)

You may recall an older post that I published a couple years ago titled, “What is a Mother?” I’m revisiting this post briefly today in celebration and recognition of Mothers’ Day. For those of you reading this how who haven’t read it or choose not to (it is quite lengthy…), the brief summary is that “mothers” can be in all forms, figures, and relationships. We now live in a society where a “mother” can be anyone: a grandmother, a stepmother, an aunt, a friend, or other type of “guardian”. A mother doesn’t even have to be a woman!

But…this year’s Mothers’ Day should be a shout out to all female entrepreneurs. And with the increasing amount of female entrepreneurs out there, there is a great deal of them who are also mothers. Being a female entrepreneur isn’t easy. Not only is being an entrepreneur hard itself, but being a woman on top of that can bring on additional challenges. Now, being a mother on TOP of all those, and you probably have the hardest job of all.

Ask any mother who is also an entrepreneur, and she will tell you that it is a tough balance. So why do female entrepreneurs claim that they are happier than stay-at-home moms or those who work in corporate atmospheres or hold down executive-level roles? This is because most female entrepreneurs get into business doing something they love or that they are passionate. In fact, many female entrepreneurs are breaking the glass ceiling with their online businesses and dominating e-commerce by selling furniture, cosmetics, and décor products, just to name a few.

So what do female entrepreneurs have to do with Mothers’ Day? The point here is that many mothers and female entrepreneurs are one in the same amazing woman. Take some time today to thank that special woman in your life that has helped raise you or your children, the “mother” figure, or that female entrepreneur who does it all. 

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 Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

4 Secrets to Why Female Entrepreneurs Are Happier

The overall increase in startups this country has seen over the last several years to a decade shouldn’t come as anything but a shock. What’s more of a shock is how many of these startups have a woman behind them. In fact, there were 8.1 million female owned or operated businesses in the U.S. in 2011 alone. Additionally, most are still surprised to discover that the amount of startups has taken off and increased significantly over the last five years, to make up one of the highest entrepreneurial peaks in history. 

And why is this? How and why are so many females, of various ages, experience levels, and education, jumping into the entrepreneurial world with both feet…and spike heels? The reasons are plentiful…and make sense.

Women Are Crazy. If you were to interview or ask any entrepreneurial female why she came up with the crazy idea of owning her own business, what do you think she would say? The most common reasons are to be expected: it is a great opportunity for stay-at-home moms, it offers flexibility and a chance for women to be successful in an entrepreneurial and even executive role, it allows for a woman to be in business for what she is passionate about…and for something she truly loves. 

The truth is, women are more apt to take on a second job than men. Women also stand to make more money as an entrepreneur than they would working for Corporate America, or in a position where they compete with men. And all in all, women are tired of being victims to the pay gap…which is still a problem in today’s working world. 

So how’s that for crazy?

Passion, Patience, and Positions: Keys to Making a Difference. All in all, a female entrepreneur could give you all the reasons we just listed above for choosing to start her own business. However, one of the most common reasons and responses is that women are in business to make a difference. Female entrepreneurs by nature are compassionate and nurturers. Therefore, it is no surprise that they put their all into their business, or their “babies”. This in turn will no doubt contribute to the superb excellence and outstanding performance behind a woman’s attitude and desire to succeed. The key here is passion. This is often what makes those successful women who are CEOs, business owners, or hold executive level positions better and more successful in their positions than men.

Beauty and Brains. There is a stereotype floating around in society that women naturally do not have a head for business. Well, guys, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we are rising to power. The female entrepreneurial world is creating a synergy, and generating a lot of buzz today. In support of this effort, there are many training programs, grants, and organizations that support female entrepreneurs, both organizationally and financially. Many technology training programs offer female entrepreneurs e-business tools, brand promotion techniques, marketing research, and general best business practices. 

Women Are Just Happier… In addition to being in business because it is a great opportunity, it gives women self-confidence and gain and use their skills, being able to stay home with the kids, make more money, and to make a difference and really be passionate about something, women are just generally happier as entrepreneurs. Recent studies have shown that women get more life and work satisfaction out of being and entrepreneur. We enjoy the flexibility, and we know that it takes patience, nurturing, dedication, and passion to drive it all home and make it work. Female entrepreneurs know what it takes to run a successful business and to excel as an entrepreneur.

Female-owned businesses range from event planning and consulting services to bakeries and flower shops, scientific forensics and technical services, and even legal consulting services. In the span of a decade, the number of businesses in the United States increased by 34%. And of that 34%, 50% were female-owned and operated. Don’t underestimate the power of women in business.

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Written content: © 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 J.H. Language Solutions

 

Powerful Women

This is something our society is beginning to see more of: powerful women. And with good reason. More and more women are assuming professional managerial and leadership roles, becoming business owners and entrepreneurs, CEOs, and becoming really powerful, influential women. And I'm not talking in just the stereotypical industries (teaching, nursing, administration, etc.), I'm talking about scientific, medical, and technical fields as well. Things sure have come a long way!

So why after almost fifty years are women finally stepping up to the plate in business and really taking a "run for their money?" There could be a few reasons to this theory:

1.) The Economy.  Today you see less housewives staying home with the housework, running errands, and shuffling the kids to soccer practice. This could be because single income families just can't survive anymore. Most middle to upper middle class families require at least two incomes to survive. That's just the way things are now...MUCH different from the 50s.

2.) Better Lifestyle. No offense to those women who are still housewives, and the housewife way of life isn't quite dead yet, but many women have entered the work force for a better lifestyle. Over the years, as more and more women were forced to enter the work force, being a "housewife" became more of a luxury. But is it really?

3.) More Educated. It is possible that more and more women (or human beings as a whole) are more educated. In the last twenty or thirty years, more than half of the women in the country acquired at least a Bachelor's degree, with the majority in 2008-2009. While it is extremely difficult to find a job today, let alone jump start a career or start a business, the odds are still in favor of those with degrees.

So the moral of this story? Women are becoming more powerful.You don't have to be a feminist to appreciate that, or a woman for that matter. I'm not sure what we are in store for as this country slips deeper and deeper into corruption and debt, but I bet the solution begins with a women. That's a post for another time.

Hardcore Feminism

"What's the worst thing you can call a woman? Don't hold back, now. You are probably thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt (I told you not to hold back!), skank. Okay, now, what are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy. I've even heard the term 'mangina'. Notice anything? The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Being a woman is the ultimate insult. Now tell me that's not royally fucked up. Most young women know that something is off. Do you think it's fair that a guy makes more money doing the same job as you? Does it piss you off and scare you when you find out about your friends getting raped? Do you ever feel like shit about your body? Do you ever feel like something is wrong because you don't fit into this bizarre ideal of what girls are supposed to be like? Well, my friend, I hate to break it to you, but you are a hardcore feminist. We're all brought up to feel like something is wrong with us. We're too fat. We're dumb. We're too smart. We're not ladylike enough - stop cursing, chewing with your mouth open, speaking your mind. We're too slutty. We aren't slutty enough. Fuck that. There are plenty of folks who believe that Feminism has achieved its goal. The 1998 Time magazine article 'Is Feminism Dead?' said, 'If the women's movement were still useful, it would have something to say; it's dead because it has won.' There's no doubt that women have made progress, but just because we get to vote and have the 'right' to work doesn't mean things are peachy keen. Anyone who can say that women have 'won', that all is well and good now, should ask why the president of Harvard can say that maybe women are naturally worse at math and then have people actually take him seriously. Or why a teacher can still get fired for being pregnant and unmarried. Seriously, are things really cool the way they are when so many of us are upchucking our meals and getting raped and beat up and being paid less money than men? And being denied birth control, and being told not to have sex but be sexy and a hundred other things that make us feel shitty? It can be better. It has to be. If feminism is dead, then why do people have to keep on trying to kill it? Feminism is the media's favorite punching bag. Don't forget - there are a lot of people benefitting from your feeling like shit about yourself. Think about it: If you don't feel fat, you won't be buying firming lotions and diet pills. If you don't feel stupid, you might speak out against all the screwy laws that adversely affect women. It pays - literally- to keep women half there. And god forbid you get involved with anything that would make you wonder why in the world women are having surgery to make their vaginas 'prettier'. The solution? Don't fall for it. If feminism isn't for you, fine. But find that our for yourself. I'm betting that you are more likely to be into something that encourages you to recognize that you're already pretty badass than something that insists that you're a fat, dumb chick."


Excerpt from Full Frontal Feminism, by Jessica Valenti