forbes.com
Childcare Costs Curb Women's Social Entrepreneurship
A King's College London study found women are three times more likely to start socially responsible businesses but face significant obstacles in their late 30s and early 40s due to childcare and eldercare, impacting the $2 trillion social enterprise sector.
- How does the prevalence of women in social entrepreneurship compare to commercial ventures, and what societal factors contribute to this disparity?
- The study, based on over 5,000 entrepreneurs across 44 countries, highlights a correlation between childcare/eldercare burdens and decreased social entrepreneurship among women in their middle years. This contrasts with male entrepreneurs who, on average, start businesses at age 36 in London's fast-growth sector, according to Beauhurst.
- What are the key obstacles preventing women aged 35-45 from launching socially responsible businesses, and what is the economic impact of this trend?
- A new King's College London study reveals that women, while more inclined to start socially responsible businesses, face significant hurdles in their late 30s and early 40s due to childcare and eldercare responsibilities. This drop-off is evident at age 38.6, impacting the growth of social enterprises.
- What policy interventions could effectively address the systemic barriers faced by women in their middle years, enabling greater participation in social entrepreneurship?
- The economic implications are substantial: social enterprises generate $2 trillion in revenue and 200 million jobs globally (WEF, 2024). The underutilization of women's entrepreneurial potential in their prime years hinders this growth, suggesting a need for policy changes to support women during this period.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the underrepresentation of women in social entrepreneurship during their middle years. The headline and introduction immediately highlight this disparity, setting the tone for the entire article. While this is a valid concern, a more balanced framing could acknowledge both the achievements of women in social entrepreneurship and the systemic barriers they face. The article could start by highlighting the success of women in social entrepreneurship and then address the drop-off.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral and objective, using terms like "challenges," "barriers," and "responsibilities." However, phrases such as "a distinct drop off" and "a drag on entrepreneurial ambitions" could be considered slightly loaded. More neutral alternatives would improve objectivity. For example, "a significant decrease" and "a factor influencing entrepreneurial ambitions".
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the challenges faced by women in their middle years, potentially overlooking similar struggles faced by men juggling family and career responsibilities. While acknowledging male entrepreneurs' challenges briefly, a deeper exploration of comparable pressures and support systems for men would provide a more balanced perspective. The article also omits discussion of potential societal or cultural factors beyond childcare costs that might disproportionately affect women's entrepreneurial pursuits.
False Dichotomy
The article doesn't explicitly present a false dichotomy, but it implies a contrast between the challenges faced by women and men in starting businesses. While the differences are highlighted, the article could benefit from further exploration of common ground and shared challenges to avoid an overly simplistic comparison.
Gender Bias
The article focuses on the gendered aspects of social entrepreneurship. While it highlights the challenges faced by women, it avoids gender stereotypes in its descriptions and analysis. The language used is generally neutral and avoids making sweeping generalizations about women's capabilities. The article provides valuable insights into gender-specific challenges, making recommendations for policy changes to address these.
Sustainable Development Goals
The research highlights that women, particularly in their middle years (late 30s and early 40s), face significant barriers to starting and running social enterprises due to childcare and eldercare responsibilities. This disproportionately impacts women and hinders their ability to contribute to economic growth and social value creation, thus negatively affecting progress towards gender equality.