Opening Statement:
This very important day seeks to appreciate, support, listen to and stand up for women. It also attempts to create awareness about the many women working for and successfully running businesses in a world that still thinks a woman’s place is in the home. The day is also celebrated in hopes of opposing these old ideas and instead of making people realize the potential and power that women hold. The day educates both customers and businesses on making the right choice and uplifting female entrepreneurs and promoting women-owned owned-businesses. We celebrate “Choose Women Wednesday” every year on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. This year, it will be held on December 4th.
History of Choose Women Wednesday
· Choose Women Wednesday is an international platform established in 2014 by Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization, a non-governmental movement that seeks to empower, celebrate and support women in business to reduce poverty around the world.
· It takes place on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving as its creation was inspired by holidays devoted to shopping and giving like Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday.
· Choose Women Wednesday initially began as Women on Wednesday and has gone by a few names, including Women Owned Wednesday, #WomenWOW, Women-Wednesday, and Women Wednesday until it was finally changed to Choose Women Wednesday in 2016.
· While the day’s main agenda is to support female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses, it also has the broader goals of uplifting people from poverty and bridging the gender gap in all areas. It is more than just a celebration – it is also a movement about the fight to ensure women receive the spotlight and support that they deserve. This fight is based on the fact that women are still not treated the same as their male counterparts when it comes to compensation and opportunities in the workforce.
· Research has shown that the average female entrepreneur gets less than half the funding of her male counterpart. This is why it’s important to encourage movements like these that get people involved in listening to, supporting, and standing up for women from all walks of life for the betterment of everyone. It’s not just time to close the gender gap, but it’s also the time to shatter the glass ceiling and tell people everywhere that the age of favoring men is over. It’s time to look beyond the patriarchy and choose women.
Important Dates to Remember
· 1739 - The First-Female Owned Business
Eliza Lucas Pinckney takes over her family's plantations in South Carolina at the age of 16.
· 18th And 19th Centuries - Women Operate Businesses
Women start operating small businesses obtained from inheritance or for supplementing their income.
· 1900s - Female Entrepreneurs
The rise of feminism lead to female entrepreneurs becoming more accepted.
· 1919 - The First Female Millionaire
Madame C.J. Walker becomes the first female millionaire by selling homemade hair care products to black women.
Frequent Asked Questions:
· What is the percent of female entrepreneur’s vs male entrepreneurs?
47% of women started a business in recent years, compared to 44% of men.
· How many female entrepreneurs are in the world?
Women entrepreneurs statistics show that 252 million entrepreneurs out of approximately 582 million in the world are female.
· How many female entrepreneurs are there in the US?
Currently, there are more than 12.3 million female entrepreneurs in the United States.
How to Observe Choose Women Wednesday
· Shop At Women-Owned Businesses
Visit stores, restaurants, and websites owned by women and make conscious shopping choices. There are several women-owned businesses in nearly every field working hard to make it big.
· Support Women
Support women-owned businesses by shopping there and recommending them to your friends and family. Every new customer helps!
· Raise Awareness
Share information about Choose Women Wednesday and female entrepreneurship on your social media. Educate yourself and others so we can all live in a more egalitarian society.
5 Interesting Facts About Female Entrepreneurs
1. Women Are Prone to Start Businesses
Women are nearly one-third more likely than men to start a business out of necessity in most parts of the world.
2. Unequal Distribution
Women from low to middle-income countries are more likely to enter early-stage entrepreneurship compared to those in higher-income countries.
3. There Are Many of Them
Female entrepreneurs make up around one-third of all entrepreneurs around the world.
4. Take Our Daughters to Work Day
“Take Our Daughters to Work Day" was popularized in 1993 to support career exploration for girls.
5. A True Self-Made Woman
Madame C.J. Walker, the first female millionaire, was born to former slaves, orphaned at seven, and built her empire out of nothing.
Why Choose Women Wednesday is Important
· It Supports Women
The day encourages people to shop from women-owned businesses and promotes female entrepreneurs. It’s all about supporting women and alleviating poverty around the world.
· It Aims to Discontinue Inequality
Unfortunately, discrimination and inequality are still very real problems that women have to deal with when it comes to the corporate world. We can change this by going out there, doing our bit, and helping women-owned businesses thrive.
· It Inspires Young Girls Everywhere
The day and the message it sends serve as an inspiration for little girls everywhere so they too can grow up to be the master of their own lives. It teaches people that entrepreneurship is not just a man’s field.
Closing Statement, Additional Information, and Personal Statement:
While conducting my research I stumbled across an interesting report by Wells Fargo Bank. To share some of the information, I have included their findings: The 2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Businesses is an initial report that diaries the economic upheaval caused by COVID-19 and how it opened opportunities for women to launch new businesses and grow their existing businesses. The report stated that currently, 14 million women-owned businesses make up 39.1% of all US businesses, which is a 13.6% increase from 2019 to 2023. It was reported that women are coming out of the pandemic stronger than the 2008 financial crisis, especially those owned by women of color. The report highlighted the impact of gender, race, business size, industry, and geography. The report explained the causes that underlie the patterns. The report also provides the women’s enterprise development community, entrepreneurial support organizations, funders, elected officials, customers, suppliers, and women entrepreneurs themselves with information and intelligence that can inform practices, policies, and advocacy efforts that encourage successful business outcomes. Data can be used to help unleash the untapped potential of women business owners to grow the U.S. economy, create jobs, increase innovation, and build wealth.
To add my personal note to this article, in September 2022, I started my own small photography business that is starting to get recognized. Not only am I a woman who owns a business, but I am a disabled woman who owns a business. So… to those women out there reading this…NEVER GIVE UP! If you can’t find a job that can earn you a sustainable income (gainful employment), or a solid career, start your own business! Just think about what you can do best, and do it!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches, Personal Experience and Opinions
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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