Women in Business - UK Business Labs

Hedy · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 10:32 AM

Why is 'women in business' such a big deal? Are we still no further down the road of equality that a woman owning her own business is considered 'execptional'?

**NikkiPilkington** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 11:16 AM

get me started on this one!

It drives me mad that in 2008 being a woman in business is something I'm supposed to 'celebrate' as if it's not the norm.

I don't see many 'Men who are called Nigel and in bsuiness' clubs - do you? It's exactly the same principle.

**Mark** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 11:20 AM

Haha! Good topic.

You're right Nikki - I don't see it as being a big deal either.

projectxy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 11:23 AM

I have to agree... surely in this day and age... there should be no difference in whether you are man or a women in business......?

**OldWelshGuy** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 11:41 AM

I agree that 'wimin in bsness' is not a good image, but THIS winds me up even more.National Black Police Association UK - NBPA How can that be right? take the word 'black ' out and replace it with 'white' and there would be hell to pay!

Equality works both ways, and organisations like women in business, and the black police officers federation breed positive discrimination.

**fantasycouriers** · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 06:51 PM

If all of the above applies - the why do only 8 of the global 500 fortune companies have female CEOs.

Around 50%, perhaps more, of the population is female, so we should have a broadly balanced number. We may be reaching equality in our thinking, but pratically, it hasn't yet bashed through that glass ceiling.

**OldWelshGuy** · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasycouriers

If all of the above applies - the why do only 8 of the global 500 fortune companies have female CEOs.

Around 50%, perhaps more, of the population is female, so we should have a broadly balanced number. We may be reaching equality in our thinking, but pratically, it hasn't yet bashed through that glass ceiling.

Going by population is a false metric. how many males and females are employed would be a better starting point.

Like it or not, women have babies, and having babies screws up your chances of promotion. i KNOW it is a terrible thing to have to say, but it is a fact so we live with it. I am NOT saying it is right, I am just saying how it is.

**Caroline** · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldWelshGuy

Like it or not, women have babies, and having babies screws up your chances of promotion. i KNOW it is a terrible thing to have to say, but it is a fact so we live with it. I am NOT saying it is right, I am just saying how it is.

OWG

do i detect a bit of sexism in there?????

Caroline

**NikkiPilkington** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 08:56 AM

Just true. Women do tend to take mroe career breaks, usually to have children, so it will affect their careers and possibly promotions. It shouldn't, but it does.

I had a child and started my own business - as a single parent, so I think that makes me a minority in a minority

- but should I be hailed as some great 'thing' that deserves it's own group?

Of course not - I'm doing what lots of other women have done and will do in the future.

If me being a woman in business is such a big thing that I should be shouting loud and proud, then I also want to see the following 'XX in Business' groups:

Short people in Business (i'm 5ft2)
People with dyed black hair in Business
British people in France in Business
People that like Purple in Business

Because I'm all of the above.

I was 'featured' in an attempt at viral marketing this week (Internet Marketing Consultant - Marketing Expert - Sales & Marketing Guru | Sean McPheat - click on the Ryder Cup thing) and it was proposed to me that I should 'make a big thing out of it as you're the only woman in there'.

WTF?

**OldWelshGuy** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 08:57 AM

Totally Caroline, but not from me. Like it or not those that shape policy in the city are men, and they are traditional victorian types with victorian ideas who are sexist.

BUT, look at small business (real business), and you will see that women do very well there.

We also have our wonderful government to thank for stifling women in business, as it is now almost too much of a risk to employ a woman of child bearing age. Some businesses can't afford the maternity pay and, more importantly, the loss of a key employee for such a long time. In their quest to make life better for women, the government have done more harm than good.

**Caroline** · #11 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:08 AM

I think you will find that although women do take long career breaks, they also make the best workers.

it is a known fact that women are good at multi-tasking, something men can not do.

so the male working population should thank us women, because without us, half their work would never get completed.

Caroline

**NikkiPilkington** · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline

[COLOR=\"RoyalBlue\"]
it is a known fact that women are good at multi-tasking, something men can not do.
[/COLOR]

do i detect a bit of sexism in there?????

**Caroline** · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 10:13 AM

of course Nikki

i can give as good as i can get, whats good for goose is good for gander

Caroline

**NikHurwood** · #14 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline

it is a known fact that women are good at multi-tasking, something men can not do.

Last time I checked I was male, and I can multi-task, for instance at this very moment I am writing this reply, listening to music and drinking coffee.

And to throw a complete curve in, before I have even finished typing I am thinking about getting up, walking outside and having a smoke....

Ooooooh I just tapped my foot......

yours sarcastically,

The King

of Multi-tasking

**NikkiPilkington** · #15 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 10:51 AM

**Caroline** · #16 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikHurwood

Last time I checked I was male, and I can multi-task, for instance at this very moment I am writing this reply, listening to music and drinking coffee.

And to throw a complete curve in, before I have even finished typing I am thinking about getting up, walking outside and having a smoke....

Ooooooh I just tapped my foot......

yours sarcastically,

The King

of Multi-tasking

ooooh i stand correct.

must be only male i know who can

Caroline

trogette · #17 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 05:45 PM

My dh says that men can multitask it's just that one 'task' is always in their pants...

Anyway...

Ikwym about how it should be normal and not something to jump up and down about (anyone else want to see the option 'human' on those 'what race are you?' sections of forms?) but IMO&E women in business and particularly mothers have different ishoos to deal with than men and organisations that bring women together to find information and support for those issues are not a bad thing at all.

As for the viral marketing thing, if it gives you a USP, why not? As long as it doesn't mean you get treated as a bobble-head...

**Emma** · #18 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trogette

if it gives you a USP, why not? As long as it doesn't mean you get treated as a bobble-head...[/COLOR]

But isn't that the OP's point? That if you keep saying "I'm a woman in business. A woman. Not a bloke, a woman. Female. In business. YESS!" then people are naturally going to assume that's all you've got going for you? Being a woman is not a valid (or even remotely interesting) USP any more.

**OldWelshGuy** · #19 (**permalink**) 23-09-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emma

Being a woman is not a valid (or even remotely interesting) USP any more.

Oh I don't know,

depends what you are selling

LinguaLab · #20 (**permalink**) 23-09-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikkiPilkington

If me being a woman in business is such a big thing that I should be shouting loud and proud, then I also want to see the following 'XX in Business' groups:

Short people in Business (i'm 5ft2)
People with dyed black hair in Business
British people in France in Business
People that like Purple in Business

Hereby submitting my application to the Short People in Business group - I'm 5'2" as well! ;o) Or better yet, I could start up Short Norwegian Women in Business in the UK.

Come to think of it, it's a miracle I have managed to start up my own company at all!

Hedy · #21 (**permalink**) 27-09-2008, 09:39 PM

It looks like there's some mixed-feelings over this one!

I personally don't consider it of any importance.

trogette · #22 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emma

But isn't that the OP's point? That if you keep saying \"I'm a woman in business. A woman. Not a bloke, a woman. Female. In business. YESS!\" then people are naturally going to assume that's all you've got going for you? Being a woman is not a valid (or even remotely interesting) USP any more.

I wouldn't assume that was all a woman was about, if she was going 'look at me! a woman, in business!' for the purposes of piggybacking on a marketing opportunity. I'd think 'canny lass, well done, get yourself out there.' If there was a male equivalent I'd probably think the same. I wouldn't assume that was all a woman was about if she chose to take part in a discussion group for women in business either, as I said before I do think that there are different things for women in business to talk about, and also I think our conversations work differently to men's so it might be easier to get relevant and palatable( ! ) feedback from women. I have no desire to ghetto-ise women, just being realistic.

**Ray Stewart** · #23 (**permalink**) 29-09-2008, 11:17 AM

I think that a client is a client and a business person is a business person.

I am not interested in age, gender, able-bodiedness or not, height, sexual preferences, size of busines, size of ego, hair colour or any other so called differentiating factors.

I treat everyone with the same attention, courtesy and respect. Surely it is how we act, and re-act, towards others that defines us as people. Nothing else.

**Emma** · #24 (**permalink**) 13-11-2008, 11:25 PM

Well, it looks like most agree that 'women only' initiatives are sexist and patronising at best! Why are there so many then?

**INDIZINE** · #25 (**permalink**) 14-11-2008, 08:10 PM

ok I can throw some light on the women in business initiatives. Keeping this short as its friday night and im waiting for my fish n chips to arrive

:

By getting more women to consider self employment as an option (cos lets face it, it is far more flexible in terms of having kids for quite a few types of businesses) the government will benefit.

Lots of women come out of work after having babies, sign back on for benefits, or cant get f/t jobs or return to their previous type of work, because of having kids - mainly. Plus then there are stay-at-home mums and housewives.

To the government this is a massive untapped resource for generating more tax. Also, coupled with getting women off benefits by startin self employment, reduces the benefits burden somewhat.

I forget all the stats right now, but the USA has the highest proportion of women in business, and doing well because of it. I forget what the potential UK untapped potential resource was, but it was a decent percentage - enough to start all these women in business initiatives.