Women entrepreneurship is on the rise! There are formal and informal entrepreneurship sectors, especially in the rural areas of the Northern Province. Women are willing to participate in the economic trade. Many women I have interacted view entrepreneurship as a means of socio-economic empowerment and justice.
The glass ceiling effects are visible among women who have started their businesses and are content with their outcomes.
Here is a view from a woman entrepreneur who gave up her job to start up. She has experienced a bad taste of the glass ceiling.
‘I had a government job. I always wanted to be the best version of myself. I am a widow and lost my husband during wartime. I raise my only daughter with all that I can provide for her. Initially, I needed the job despite my challenges. I am well-qualified and worked hard. The male domination was high at that time when I worked in 2017, and I could barely go up in my career ladder. No matter how hard I worked, I felt I needed to get my deserved recognition. While it is true that women can get some sort of success with these jobs, it is hard to go above. It didn’t just resonate with my soul. I took the biggest risk I could at that time and decided to leave the job. I now make pickles and pack food items. I am delighted with my work; my daughter has now finished her A/Levels. She is proceeding further to her higher studies. I have big dreams of someday starting my factory and working hard for that, said, a woman entrepreneur from Kurunagar Jaffna.
Such glass ceiling and discriminatory practices are what causes women to start their businesses even at the risk of losing a regular income. However, such women who established their businesses even from home expressed how happy they are now and how big their future dreams are. No one regretted their decisions, even when they had ups and downs.
‘I am now a teacher in a private school and doing my garments business. I will one day let go of my regular job and fully invest in my entrepreneurial career. My dream is to establish a big garments factory in Kilinochchi and export my designs, ‘ said a woman entrepreneur from Kilinochchi.
These views confirm that all women entrepreneurs somehow crave independence in their spirit. The biggest revelation was that most such entrepreneurs were intrinsically motivated towards their goals rather than having extrinsic motivations only. Entrepreneurs only want to be rich, which is a common myth. Many of those who embark on their entrepreneurial journeys have various intrinsic motivations. They want to be independent! They want to support their families and community! They want to do justice for themselves! They want to go behind passion rather than towards boring routines! And they are willing to take bold risks!
‘I studied in the UK and resided there for four years. My family wanted me to stay there. This is what most of our people dream of! They think settling in a foreign country is like landing in heaven or as a big jackpot. But I was missing my hometown, and I could only afford odd jobs as a student. Later, I found a good job, and the company offered me a work permit. I had to work so hard, and my initially thoughts were like if I work even 60% of the effort that I had to put in my work abroad in my own business, I will earn well, and most importantly, I will lead a peaceful and soulful life here. That thought changed everything. I took that risk and came back here. I now own my travel business, and this is going smoothly. I am not to say that everything is sunshine now, but I am at more peace and feel recognised’, said a woman entrepreneur from Jaffna.
Women entrepreneurs I spoke to also provided more fascinating views on how they view entrepreneurship as a justice for all the trauma they went through in their lives.
‘I grew up in poverty. I couldn’t afford to study after A/Levels. I now turn 37 and have two kids. I lost three of my siblings to war. One of my sons was born during the last wartime, and he has autism. I produce Palmyra products and export them. I always had this quench to succeed in life. In my life, I have undergone challenges but nothing. I wanted to channel my energy into something productive. I started producing food items and sold them in Colombo as we were in Colombo after the war. I wanted to come back to my hometown and start the business again here. However, I faced failure due to some personal issues. Two years back, I started back, and now I am on the track. I do export my products. My dream is to become a big export brand’, said a woman entrepreneur from Palai Jaffna.
From the views of women entrepreneurs, it is evident that many have similar reasons for starting their businesses. However, what about those who didn’t have any other option than becoming self-employed?
‘I lost my husband in 2009, and this became a real burden. I had to feed my children. An NGO then contacted me. I was provided with cattle, which I needed to familiarise myself with. I was not doing well. I ended up losing all the cattle supplied to me and back to poverty. In the beginning, most NGOs only provided cattle or tailoring machines. This was not suitable for me. I took a small loan from a distant relative and started making Kavadi, and I have seen my father making it earlier. I have had massive success with it, and I sell Kavadi everywhere to all temples. People come from different parts of the country to buy Kavadi from me. This requires a lot of work, but I make good money with it, said a woman entrepreneur from Mayilitty Jaffna.
While these women entrepreneurs’ stories express their courage, determination, and inner strength to pursue their goals, it is still devasting to hear what they went through to get such motivations. As mentioned earlier, it is not a typical story of ‘I just want to be free and become rich’. These women are real warriors, and they exemplify real women’s empowerment.
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