GENDER GAP IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN CHINA: A SUMMARY

Abstract

Women’s increasing involvement in entrepreneurship in China have led to higher attention on the gender difference in business. No matter how many female entrepreneurs are represented now, the gap in getting financing, exposure, and opportunities has remained constant. China’s business and commerce practices go back as far as thousands of years in its history. Through the initiative, women leaders are given guidance and support, while they are also allowed to take part in important decisions. In spite of believing in gender equality for some time, women in China are still supported less than men when it comes to entering and remaining in the labor market. Due to COVID-19, female entrepreneurs experienced more challenges in their business activities in China. Shops, service providers, and schools run by women have had to cope with the difficulties of the pandemic and recession in their business areas. What’s more, women were responsible for unpaid caregiving, both for children and older family members, and this burden became stronger when schools and services stopped working. As a result of the epidemic, old gender inequality problems were made even worse among entrepreneurs. Thanks to their easy access to technology, networks, and money, male entrepreneurs tend to choose digital business models more than women do. Alternatively, a lot of female entrepreneurs weren’t familiar with computers or still had difficulties making their businesses online. Even though innovation and private business have thrived because of economic openings in China, some demographic groups have not shared in the benefits. High-growth industries such as technology have fewer women, there is prejudice in getting venture capital and lending, and they have to deal with family and work responsibilities together. Because of COVID-19, gender inequalities worsened, so policymakers and governments must focus on including all genders in their actions and planning.