Yesterday, my family and I walked by a stoop sale in Brooklyn where a woman was selling vintage Barbie dolls. Displayed on the table where Barbies from other countries, Barbies that were flamenco dancers and an astronaut Barbie. I could not resist purchasing the astronaut Barbie doll for the following reasons: 1) Her outfit was amazing, 2) the tag line read “we girls can do anything!” and the back of the package exclaimed “Glamour and adventure that’s out of this world.” Holding this doll brought back so many of the messages that I received about career paths for women when I was growing up.
When I was a little girl, there were lots of messages about what kind of work boys and girls pursued when they grew up. Boys were firemen, police officers and doctors and little girls were moms, teachers and nurses. As I got older, there was a big push to demonstrate that girls could pursue jobs that were traditionally held by men. My women’s studies classes in college encouraged women to battle sexism in the workplace and strive for equality. Women could be firemen, too! When I entered the workplace, my experience of sexism were mostly by men who attributed my success and talents to my appearance which they would point out was why they hired me in the first place. In my 20s, I thought that being attractive was an asset and quickly realized that while this may be true, it is incredibly demoralizing. I started to wish for a work world where regardless of your gender (and appearance), you could have equal opportunity to be successful. I am pleased to say that I found that world – it is the world of entrepreneurship.
It is no surprise to me that so many women are starting businesses. You can really create a job for yourself based on your talents and abilities, be your own boss and not have to deal with someone else’s idea of the kind of work that is “appropriate” based on your gender. That is not to say that entrepreneurship is easy or that is it not without its challenges. Certainly there are industries where women are starting businesses and they still face tremendous sexism (i.e. the tech world). But on a daily basis, the women that I work with seemed to have figured it out. They are not investing energy trying to fit into a work role that is pre-defined, they are creating their own work, on their own terms and they are kicking butt! And this makes me feel like my generation is making an impact. I am excited to think about the example we are setting for our children – both girls and boys.
-Amy
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for free updates.
2 Comments on “Is Entrepreneurship the New Gender Neutral?
Andrea Fuentes Says:
Great article Amy!
I had a well meaning teachers tell me that “Girls can ‘t be race car drivers.” when I told her what I wanted for my career. She never could explain WHY to my endless questions. Of course things have changed alot since that time.
Entrepreneurship can definitely level the playing field; it’s great. Yet I still pitch to investor groups that are 100% male; go to tech events that are 90% male. I don’t feel it’s deliberate sexism, but appreciate your organization helping female entrepreneurs network and support each other.
Let’s do this ladies!!
Paula Cohen Says:
My grandmother arrived in NY from Russia in 1902, at the age of 12, in steerage and alone, and speaking no English. She was the oldest of 10 kids, and her dad had sent for her, to help him earn enough to bring the rest of the family to America. She went to work immediately, in a millinery (hat) factory, and fell in love with work.
Twelve years later, a newlywed and pregnant with her first (my mom), she caught her heel on some cracked linoleum in the Lower East Side tenement where she lived, and fell down a flight of stairs. Neither she nor her baby were injured, but she sued her landlord for negligence…and won. (Ya didn’t mess with my grandma!)
She took the money she won, went out and rented a storefront that had been used by a hat store that had recently gone out of business. She spent the rest of the day going to all of her very extensive contacts — networking!! — in the millinery trade and borrowing fabric, needles, pins, thread, beads, feathers, sequins, ironing boards, irons, etc., and working out repayment. Her terms? She negotiated to pay each of her creditors back at 5% interest at the end of 12 months…they gave her the money because they knew her moxie and her integrity…and she paid every single one of them back on time.
When my grandfather came home from work that day (he was a barber up until that moment), my grandmother greeted him with, “Guess what, Leo? We’re in business!!”
Ida and Leo Adlerstein were so successful that they were contemplating retirement in 1929, at the ripe old age of 40, and even in the pit of the Depression were able to send their two kids to college; my mother studied pre-med, my uncle studied law.
Incredibly indomitable, bright and gifted women like my grandmother, who never went beyond 6th grade herself, and could barely read — but who could add a long column of 3 figures on a page just by looking at it, and never make a mistake — have been there all along; they just weren’t recognized for their gifts. I count my blessings, every day, to have been blessed with such a model, long before it became the fashion!
Leave a Comment
