Women's Participation in Business Could Lift Us Out of Recession, BBC Reports

The BBC reports that women could help lift economies out of the recession by starting their own businesses. A conference held in London this week, which attracted businesswomen from all corners of the globe, as well as a small group of businessmen, aimed at discussing how to break the glass ceiling universally and encourage more women to develop their own businesses.

Interestingly, the BBC reports that male attendees were among the “strongest advocates for encouraging women to become entrepreneurs.” Britain’s Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, who attended the conference is quoted:

“Women have a huge amount to contribute to businesses at top levels. There are barriers holding them back. This is wrong. It’s not just for the women as individuals; it’s unfair to the rest of us because our economies are losing out as a result.”

The article repeatedly reiterates that promoting women in business is not just good for women and that the conference is not just about developing strategies for overcoming social and economic barriers that have made it difficult for women to participate in business for women’s sake.

I’m all for the acknowledgment that women play a vital role in society. Such recognition helps more people understand and value the work that women do. I also think that the assertion that women can and do have an extremely positive impact on the economy and that the work they do can help get us out of a global recession is correct, albeit obvious. But this shouldn’t be the reason for us to remove barriers and encourage women to start their own businesses. We should want increased access for women because it benefits women and because women should have access to opportunities that will improve their lives. Why is it that the work women are doing is only widely acknowledged when it benefits men, children, or society at large? When will the work women do ever be valued simply because it benefits women?