We’ve come a long way since the days when women were expected to stay at home, but the truth is that the pressure on women hasn’t gone away - it’s just changed shape.

Now, many of us are expected to do everything. Work full-time, run the home, raise children, look our best, keep everyone organised, and somehow still have energy left for ourselves. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.

And yet, despite how much women are juggling, society still often assumes we’re the ones handling most of the childcare, housework, and emotional labour - even when we’re the main earners.

That imbalance is exactly why more women are deciding to take control of their own paths by starting businesses. Running your own business gives you choices, freedom, and confidence that traditional roles rarely allow.

The unspoken expectations on women

Even now, I still notice small moments that show how deep these assumptions go.

When I picked my children up from school once, a teacher commented on what “Mummy puts in your lunchbox”. The reality? Back then my husband did the morning school runs and packed the lunch boxes while I got started with work. These days I do them, but it’s something we’ve always shared depending on who’s busiest at the time or how our work schedule best fits.

Another moment that stuck with me was when a family member stayed over and told me where they’d left their dirty towels, saying they didn’t want to make my job any harder. There was no thought that my husband might do the washing.

We both do cleaning, cooking, school runs, and everything in between. Since around 2019, I’ve also been the main earner, so we share most responsibilities equally. But despite that, people still tend to assume those tasks fall to me simply because I’m the woman.

Or the time a relative commented that I “hadn’t dusted” some plant leaves. As if that’s automatically my job. Why can’t it be shared equally if both partners work full time?

And when my husband left his job to go self-employed, someone actually said they were “worried about how he’d support the family” - without realising that I was already the main earner.

At a wedding I had to attend by myself once, I was asked by multiple people throughout the day as we struck up conversations "what does your husband do for a living?" with rarely a single person asking what I do - perhaps they were just creating small talk, but it felt as though the assumption was my husband must have a career, but not me. 

It’s a mindset that still lingers. Even when women are financially independent, we’re often not seen that way.

Why women need to lead more businesses

The business world is changing, but not fast enough. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, even though we make up nearly half of the workforce.

Starting your own business isn’t just about financial success - it’s about rewriting what leadership looks like. It’s about showing that women can run profitable, sustainable, and inspiring companies while creating fairer, more flexible workplaces.

When women lead, they often bring empathy, collaboration, and creativity into business decisions. And those traits aren’t “soft skills” - they’re exactly what modern business needs.

Challenging the gender pay gap

For me, one of the biggest motivators to become self-employed came from personal experience.

Before having children, I worked at the same company for nearly a decade. I shared a very similar role with a male colleague - we worked in different departments but had almost identical responsibilities. When I asked for a pay rise, my manager agreed that I should earn the same, but said it wasn’t up to him.

After I left, I accidentally found out that to match his salary, I’d have needed a 60% pay increase! My request had been declined by payroll.

That’s when it really hit me: the only way to have full control over my earning potential was to work for myself.

Running your own business removes that ceiling. You decide what you’re worth - and you get to build something that reflects your values, not outdated assumptions.

Changing the workplace for future generations

When women lead, they don’t just make money; they make change.

Owning your own business gives you the power to shape a better workplace - one that recognises equality, flexibility, and mental health as essentials, not bonuses.

You can create roles that support parents on both sides, offer genuine flexibility, and promote pay transparency. You can give opportunities to other women, mentor younger entrepreneurs, and build a culture where everyone feels supported to thrive.

Imagine if more businesses were led by people who valued wellbeing and fairness as much as profit - that’s the kind of shift women entrepreneurs are bringing about.

Breaking free from the old model

Traditional work structures don’t always suit the lives women are living today. Many of us want more flexibility, more meaning, and more balance between work and family.

Starting your own business lets you design that balance. You can choose when to work, how to work, and what kind of work actually fulfils you.

Whether that’s freelancing, running a small e-commerce shop, launching a service-based business, or starting a digital brand, it gives you the independence to earn on your own terms.

Financial freedom isn’t about luxury; it’s about control - over your time, your priorities, and your future.

Empowering other women through your work

When women succeed in business, it has a ripple effect. Each new business owner becomes a visible reminder that leadership doesn’t have a gender.

You can create mentoring programmes, internships, or training opportunities to support women and girls getting started in business. You can run workshops, share your story, or simply show what’s possible by doing it yourself.

Every woman who succeeds makes it a little easier for the next to follow.

Leading change from within

As a woman running your own business, you can challenge outdated workplace structures. You can make flexible working the norm, not the exception. You can build maternity and paternity policies that treat parents equally and support families properly.

You can make sure your employees feel valued and safe - not judged by gender or personal circumstances. Every business led by a woman helps normalise equality from the inside out.

Why now is the time

We’re at a turning point. Technology, remote work, and access to global audiences mean it’s never been easier to start something of your own.

The barriers that held women back are still there, but they’re smaller than they used to be. You no longer need permission or approval to start a business. You just need an idea, persistence, and belief in what you’re building.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business - to gain flexibility, purpose, or independence - there’s never been a better time.

Final thoughts

Female entrepreneurship isn’t just about equality. It’s about opportunity. It’s about taking control of your time, your money, and your choices.

For many women, starting a business is the first step toward freedom - freedom from outdated expectations, pay gaps, and rigid routines.

The more women who build businesses, the more we shift the world towards fairness, creativity, and genuine balance.

And that’s something worth fighting for.

Quick Article Roundup:

Starting your own business gives women financial independence, flexibility, and freedom from outdated workplace expectations. Female entrepreneurs can shape fairer, more supportive businesses, challenge pay gaps, and inspire others to lead. In 2025, it’s easier than ever for women to take control of their income and future.