Every great transformation starts with the impetus of people who dare, break barriers, modify beliefs and break paradigms. Since the burning of bras in the public square, society has been reformulating the meaning of being a woman. If before, the role assigned to us was one of care, of zeal for the home and family, today we take bigger flights, but there is still little for what we want to achieve.
Although slow, structural advances are ongoing. Whether in the family, social or corporate environment, the female voice is intensifying and gaining ground. Data from Sebrae show that more than 9 million women are currently managing companies, which represents 34% of the Brazilian market. The data, until then simple, deserves celebration, given the characteristic inequality of our country.
With the questionable length of maternity leave, which makes mothers give up prioritizing their young child to return to the labor market just four or six months after giving birth, it is possible to understand why so many women decided to give up their careers throughout of years.
Based on biases, rooted in unconscious beliefs, we see female protagonism being underestimated, limited and diminished. However, in 43% of Brazilian households, according to the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), they are the financial leaders.
In the labor market, female representation goes far beyond empowerment and income generation, mainly reflecting on social improvement. This is because studies show that businesses built by women have a strong social nature, focused on causes that bring beneficial results to the community, such as diversity and inclusion. In addition to seeking to strengthen the female presence in the market, seeking to employ other women when they gain more space in the economy, their existence in the entrepreneurial ecosystem strengthens market competitiveness.
There are several data that can demonstrate that we women, who are facing the entrepreneurial battle, are already protagonists.
The scenario presented by the pandemic reinforced our need in the market, helping to break the structural weaknesses of the market and demonstrating how innovation in the work context is necessary to foster new visions and attitudes to survive in the market.
Although they lack public policies in favor of the movement, lines of credit and investment that encourage women on this journey or concrete actions for equity, the transformations that have already begun will have an impact in the near future.
This does not mean that the journey has become any easier, there will undoubtedly still be several obstacles and obstacles, but representation already exists, as well as several support networks that encourage and support female entrepreneurship.
More than new perspectives, the barriers already broken down by great examples in the market show us daily that the archaic world is in ruins and the new normal will be the one that we will build together for a better world.
Raquel Leidens is director of operations and partner of the Seven agency, affiliated to Sinapro/SC
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