Irish women don’t give the impression they lack confidence. Far from.

Judging by many of the comments many Irish women may become disillusioned from having to deal with Irish men whose thinking hasn’t changed much since 1832.

Jesus Christ almighty I can’t believe I am reading such ridiculous drivel in this day and age as is in these comments. Or maybe, tragically, I can.

I am self employed and have in the past started and sold two businesses and I can tell you there are significant barriers for women that have NOTHING to do with not being able to ‘think outside the box’, having limits (whatever the hell that means), being more or less practical or have some undefined hormone related issues with entrepreneurial thinking.

First is getting funds. Yes, it’s an issue for everyone now. But how many men in their mid 30s are asked by the bank manager to get their father to guarantor a business loan? That was what I was asked to do (I walked out and got the money elsewhere).

This crap applies also to things like renting premises (Could you get your husband to give me a call?), obtaining insurance, dealing with accountants etc. You ALWAYS have to shop around for people who do not either patronise you, treat you like a half-wit or want to know who the man is in the operation.

Sadly there is then pure ignorance like your’s to contend with when it comes to customers. How many men have to repeatedly deal with people coming into or calling a business, and on encountering a women be asked ‘Is the boss around?’. This is especially painful and recurrent if you are in a field that is traditionally male dominated.

Then there is the reality that childcare almost always impinges more on a woman’s time than on her partner’s, especially in the start up phase of a business where there is not likely to be an instant fortune coming in (to say the least). This isn’t so much about being at work, it’s about not having the time (or inclination) to play golf, meet up in the pub, go to industry events and generally smooze. And when you do, you have to deal once more with all the crappola that comes with being in a minority and, again, patronised and talked down to.

Of course all these things are surmountable and after a while people get to know you, get used to you and eventually forget about your gender. But they are a pain in the neck and put some people off for good.

And also (why am I even having to say this?) the assumption that women only start ‘women’s businesses’ like beauty salons, tanning shops – oh forget it, I can’t even be bothered to glorify that with a response.

I would say it’s nothing to do with women lacking confidence and everything to do with testosterone; leading to aggression, drive, risk taking etc.

Hard to say why, many women are stay at home mums, some working and rearing children. Many, like men just don’t have the funds needed. I do think men are more free but also take a chance where women would be more cautious.

I, on the other hand, took that chance. Had to! I would never have known how things would work out if I hadn’t and may regret it for the rest of my life. Sadly, one does need much funds. I used what was left of a redundancy and savings. No wage yet, but is just awesome to read the feedback from parents of children that I have helped. Unfortunately, the market is small in Ireland (80,000 + people with dyslexia but over 5 million in the UK) Sadly, I see myself moving to the UK as I find I am banging my head against the wall here. Minister for Education cannot be seen to be endorsing a product. I’m Irish, the product is Irish, Unique! The two companies that helped me develop it are Irish. My advice to anyone with a thought in their head, a great invention, just do it! You’ll never know unless you try!

Maybe they’re not setting up their own business due to the economic climate?

Make me a sammich.

*looks at topic title*
*summarises with forefinger tapping chin*

its cos they have no starter funds cos they spend 600 euro on lookin like a tango

Maybe its because, deep down, there are certain gender biases and biology that come into play. Women aren’t expected to be the “provider” for a family in the way men are.
Men are more likely to take this risk because most don’t consider being supported by their women as a viable longterm option. And because they fear they won’t attract a mate otherwise.
I’m sure some may disagree and the reality is that many men are ending up in that situation, but it probably wouldn’t be their dream situation. Or have any of you lads out there dreamt of finding a rich princess?

We need to harness the talent, productivity, creativity and confidence of all women in the Republic of Ireland, qualities that were ignored during the days of auld Catholic Ireland. With our backs against the wall during the present economic and existential crisis, failure is not an option.

I believe it’s more a case of ‘needs must’ rather than a confidence issue – could it be that more men than women feel responsible for their own and perhaps their families future financial situation?? Therefore more men than women set up their own business when their back is to the wall? Obviously not a generalisation but at a ratio of 21/2 : 1 -sounds about right to me!

Has this “lack of confidence” been proved, or is just some assumption tacked on at the end of the data? On the National Women’s Entreprise Day webpage they don’t make that statement.

Because considering most people I know that run their own business are tradesmen or work in IT, all male-dominated professions, this isn’t surprising. Take the top 10 male and female dominated jobs:
http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/arbeid-sociale-zekerheid/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2005/2005-1825-wm.htm Apologies that the figures are not for Ireland, all the Irish websites are too busy pretending I earn more than women.

By my count, 8 of those male dominated jobs can and are usually done as a personal business, and only 3 female. Combine this with anecdotal evidence, some examples of jobs that are currently female dominated are things like nursing and teaching, not really an option to strike out on your own with those. It’s nothing to do with confidence, it’s career choice.

Oi! You should be ready In a Holding House! Ha ha ha. I am a business owner since I was 21. One thing I realised early on is that it doesn’t matter what’s between your legs. It’s a pretty equal playing field in my experience. If you want it, you have to want to work for it no matter who you are. Obviously, more men have wanted it so far but times they are a changing!

Maybe because theres an over abundance of beauty salons, tanning shops etc. and can’t think of other enterprises to try.

That was supposed to be “reading” sorry I typed it too quickly.

Women don’t think outside the box. They have limits. Men are more practical and therefore entrepreneurial thinkers

That’s about the size of it alright. For obvious physiological and social reasons some areas of work appeal more in the main to women than men. Men tend to gravitate towards the higher risk higher reward since, not to put to fine a point on it, that’s what women find attractive. Hence why the recession has hit men overall considerably harder. If there’s any real barriers to women succeeding in business then let’s address them however I’m not so sure they exist. Government money has already been spent on a campaign about unequal pay – something which is a complete and utter myth. I’ve asked a number of times to be provided with one single instance of a man being paid more than a women for the same job in the last ten years. Did I get even one? Not a hope. So, before we go about addressing the problem let’s check if it actually exists rather than making a point and retrospectively backing it up with (somewhat meaningless) statistics.

Now where are those sammiches?

Irish men are more arrogant and stupid but amazingly they get results that no one expects. For example, they look upon feedback as negative yet customers still buy off them. The Irish market is uncompetitive and it’s mainly men who cause this.