A recent study done by “Sebrae”, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service” offers a revealing snapshot of Brazilian businesswomen. Titled “Women’s Entrepreneurship,” the study revelas that 67% of them are mothers. This maternal condition has not only influenced many women to start their own businesses but also presents additional challenges in balancing work and family care.
According to the research, the need to balance childcare and work motivated many women to become entrepreneurs. Unlike men, for whom fatherhood seems to have a lesser impact, 68% of female entrepreneurs stated that motherhood “greatly influenced” their business careers.
The study also highlights an unequal burden of domestic work and family care. Women entrepreneurs spend an average of 3.1 hours per day on family care and 2.9 hours on household chores, nearly double the time men spend on these same activities. This disparity results in women dedicating fewer hours per week to their own businesses, averaging 34 to 35 hours, while men devote between 40 and 43 hours.
The inequality extends to the perception of being overwhelmed, with 76% of women feeling more burdened due to the double shift, compared to 55% of men. Additionally, 61% of women had to forgo personal or business activities to care for their children or other family members, a significantly higher number than the 48% observed among men.
