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Women in business
"Women in business" describes women who participate in leadership roles in commerce.

History
In many prehistoric cultures, women assumed a particular cultural role. In hunter-gatherer societies, women were the gatherers of plant foods, small animal foods and fish. Men hunted meat from large animals. In more recent history, the gender roles of women have changed significantly. In the 17th century, middle class women were involved in domestic tasks emphasizing child care. Due to economic scarcity poorer women were forced to seek employment outside the household. Occupations available to women were however lower in pay than those available to men. Changes in the labor market brought new employment for women. Their employment changed from dirty, long hour factory jobs to cleaner, more respectable office jobs where more education was demanded. Women's participation in the U.S. labor force rose from 6% in 1900 to 23% in 1923. Shifts in the labor force led to changes in the attitudes of women at work, following the revolution of women becoming career and education oriented.

Women’s work
"Women's work" is a term used to indicate work that is believed to be exclusively the domain of women. "Women's work" may also refer to roles related to housekeeping such as: cooking, sewing, ironing, cleaning and taking care of children. Though much of "women's work" is indoors, some is outdoors such as: fetching water, grocery shopping or gardening. By contrast, "men's work" involves the usage of strength, dealing with money or work outdoors; mechanical, electrical or electronic knowledge and skill. "Men's work" is considered to be the opposite of "women's work" and thus does not include activities within the home or with children.

Transition of roles
In most cultures, women’s roles in business and in the workforce are defined by cultural notions about women’s appropriate role in society. In the early 19th century the “cult of domesticity” shaped American perception that women's proper place was the household. The themes of domesticity and mothering, limit venues for female entrepreneurship and dictate that women are suited for certain pursuits or jobs more than others. By the mid to late 19th century women began to dominate businesses and professions such as manufacturing, care clothing or care giving jobs such as nursing or social work. The 19th century offered new opportunities for women but also brought a set of social expectations about what behavior befitted women in American society.

Women in corporate leadership
The National Association of Corporate Directors has noted that companies that have women on their boards generate value to their corporations by broadening market vision, enhancing board dynamics, inspiring female stockholders and improving corporate reputation.Women oversee 83 % of direct consumer spending, own half of all public stock, and make up more than 50% of the talent pool. Given the projected talent deficit that will follow the retirement of millions "Baby Boomers" - managers and executives over the next 20 years-women leaders will be seen in increasing numbers as employers and as a source of talent, experience and senior-management leadership.

Women as entrepreneurs
"Female entrepreneur" is a women who organizes and manages any enterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. "Female entrepreneurship" ranges from just over 1.5% to 45.4% of the adult female population in the 59 economies included in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research project. Although entrepreneurial activity among women is highest in emerging economies (45.5%), the proportion of all entrepreneurs who are women varies considerably among the economies. From 16% in the Republic of Korea to 55% in Ghana. Ghana is also the only economy with more women than men entrepreneurs. Gender differences in access to and use of financial services have negative repercussions not only for female entrepreneurs, but also on the overall economy of a country. This then affects the global economy. Unequal access to financial services is affecting economic growth as credit constraints intensify income inequality, by hindering money to poor individuals and women.

Developing Countries- Gender differences in access to and use of financial services prevent women from participating in the modern market economy, leading to lower female financial market participation. In developing countries women either do not have access to education or complete only few years in school. Women are lacking self-confidence in their ability to start a business, along with gender beliefs being restrictive about the roles of women in society. Their performance is also detrimentally affected by access to and the costs of finances. In rural areas, women are mainly self-employed. Self-employment enables women to participate in economic activities while generating at least some income. The income is often so little, that it barely supports their needs. This then serves as a barriers for women to access financial services.

Developed Countries - The number of women-owned businesses in the United States is growing at twice the rate of all firms. Currently around 30% of US firms are majority-owned by women. Affirmative action has been credited with "bringing a generation of women into business ownership" in the United States, following the 1988 Women's Business Ownership Act. In other developed countries, progress has been much slower (i.g: In the UK it is estimated that just 15% of firms are majority-owned by women).

Demographics
Successful women entrepreneurs start their businesses as a second or third profession. Because of their previous careers, women entrepreneurs enter the business world later on in life, around 40–60 years old. As women are now overtaking their male peers when it comes to education, having a higher education degree is a significant characteristic that many successful female entrepreneurs have in common.

International implications
Women from low- to middle-income countries(such as Russia and the Philippines) are more likely to start their own companies than women in higher income countries(such as Belgium, Sweden and Australia). A significant factor that plays a role in this disparity is contributed to the fact that women from low income countries often seek an additional means of income to support themselves and their families. Overall, 40% to 50% of all small businesses are owned by women in developing countries.

Challenges
Even though female entrepreneurship and the formation of female business networks is steadily rising, female entrepreneurs still face challenges. The gender gap in entrepreneurship is evident on both the individual and enterprise level. In the case of enterprises, female owned firms tend to be smaller, have less access to finances and women are less likely to receive a loan. Compared to males, women have to overcome higher barriers and tend to rely less on external finances. On the individual level, there is lower female than male participation in entrepreneurship. This is due to lower access to education, formal employment and cultural factors such as being a wife or taking care of a family. Women are disadvantaged, a fact which serves as evidence that more improvement and help needs to be delivered to women, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Banks need to find more innovative ways to reach out to women that would not otherwise qualify for credit because of traditional institutions or characteristics. A specific solution for solving women’s difficulties for obtaining finances has been micro-financing. Microfinance is a financial institution that has become exceptionally popular especially in developing economies.