College of Social Sciences

On October 3rd, 2023, the University of Glasgow hosted a panel event entitled "Addressing the gender imbalance in UK entrepreneurialism, an intersectional approach." The event welcomed leading experts to discuss the structural causes of gender inequality in UK entrepreneurialism with an intersectional perspective: 

• Professor in Practice - Technology Entrepreneurship Mark Logan, School of Computing Science, University of Glasgow.  
• Karen Rodger, Team Leader for the Widening Entrepreneurship team in the Entrepreneurship Division of the Talent and Participation Unit for The Scottish Government.  
• Dr Samuel Mwaura, Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at the University of Edinburgh Business School.  
• Karen Stevens, entrepreneur and ambassador for the charity WEvolution. 

 

The event was organised by Dr Anna Clover and Dr Saurabh Lall with the support of the Gender and Sexualities Interdisciplinary Network, an initiative by the CoSS Addressing Inequalities IRT. 

 

Providing context: Wider inequalities 

The inaugural note was provided by Professor of Entrepreneurship Sara Carter OBE FRSE, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow, who pioneered research on gender and small business performance in the UK. She placed the discussion in a wider historical and cultural context, emphasising that although women entrepreneurs represent a growing demographic in the UK, barriers to female business ownership are persistent and long-standing. She further praised the event’s intersectional approach to inequality. Recalling her participation in similar events in the past, she asked how we can ensure that in ten years’ time, there is no longer the necessity to organise events about gender inequalities in entrepreneurialism. Considering this, she emphasised the necessity for fresh perspectives and approaches from academics and policymakers, to tackle this issue. 

Professor Carter stressed the need to address gender disparity in entrepreneurship in the context of broader gender inequalities, including women's disproportionate responsibilities for childcare and domestic duties. Professor Mark Logan, co-author of 'Pathways: A New Approach for Women in Entrepreneurship,' further stressed the necessity to address the gender disparity in UK entrepreneurship within the framework of wider societal sexism and misogyny. 

 

Understanding the problem: Data Deficiencies 

Panelists discussed the critical issue of insufficient gender-disaggregated data in the UK. This lack extends to broader characteristics like ethnicity and economic background, posing challenges in understanding the intersecting barriers faced by UK entrepreneurs. Professor Mark Logan stressed the cyclical nature of the problem: policies do not change due to insufficient data, and data generation remains low as it's not identified as a key issue within UK policy. Panelists robustly discussed how policymakers and academics can balance the necessity for data with the imperative to spearhead change.   

 

Finding solutions: Adapting government approaches  

Karen Rodger recognised the multifaceted challenges behind gender imbalance in entrepreneurship, including entrenched issues of racism and sexism. She acknowledged that historically, government policies often attributed this imbalance to women's deficiencies rather than structural issues. In her role implementing Pathways report recommendations, she emphasised the necessity to move away from deficiency models and adapt support programmes to better serve women’s rights and interests.  

The discussion extended to the relevance and accessibility of these programs for marginalised women, including those from economically deprived backgrounds and minority ethnic groups. Dr. Samuel Mwaura disputed the narrative that certain communities are 'hard to reach.' He highlighted that governmental bodies such as the police force locate marginalised communities with ease – and can therefore also locate them to provide support. He emphasised that there currently exists a glut of services that need to be more effectively targeted to support marginalised entrepreneurs.  

 

Finding solutions: The power of communities 

Karen Stevens emphasised the importance of supporting 'unexpected entrepreneurs' from marginalised groups, often overlooked by policy initiatives. The panel advocated for government bodies to enhance collaboration with existing networks, such as WEvolution, recognising their role in empowering women. Karen shared her personal journey towards entrepreneurialism, highlighting the transformative power of small business ownership. She outlined WEvolution's mission, facilitating connections among female entrepreneurs to form support networks, providing financial assistance, business guidance, and emotional support. This approach shows the strength of community groups in nurturing and empowering marginalised women in entrepreneurship.  

 

In summary, the panel event shed light on the persistent gender imbalance in UK entrepreneurialism, addressing its structural causes. The importance of adapting policy approaches to recognise systemic issues of sexism, racism and economic deprivation, rather than deficiencies in women, was a key theme. The issue of data gaps regarding gender and entrepreneurialism was underscored. Additionally, the significance of improving governmental links with grass-roots initiatives like WEvolution was highlighted. The event emphasised the necessity for a paradigm shift in societal attitudes and policy frameworks to empower women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. It serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to create a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial landscape in the UK. 

 

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First published: 30 October 2023