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It’s easy for business leaders and lawmakers to say they support women in the workforce, but many don’t understand the situation.
Research from WalletHub and the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Spears School of Business website recently found that women in Oklahoma are at a disadvantage. Oklahoma ranks among the worst states for women in terms of economic and social security, health care, safety, poverty rates, and incarceration rates.
A lack of affordable child care, health care and support for single, working mothers is driving women out of the workforce, making up nearly a quarter of all Oklahoma households.
The annual cost of child care in Oklahoma exceeds the state’s cost of attending a public, four-year university, placing additional financial burdens on women.
Given these barriers, what can the business community and regional representatives do to help women entrepreneurs?
The first step is to intentionally provide career opportunities to Oklahoma women, including those without a college degree or high school diploma. Only 19% of Oklahoma women have completed a four-year college education and 20% have not graduated from high school. As a business woman, hiring women like me who don’t have traditional educational backgrounds, and making sure they’re paid competitively and fairly from the start is a priority.
We can also fight back by investing in women in their career development. Mentors can provide space for women to explore new ideas and plan their futures. This is especially true for female entrepreneurs who want to pursue their dreams and enter male-dominated industries.
There are significant challenges associated with making the leap to business, including balancing parenting and one’s career goals. However, women should not be forced to choose between the two. The solution starts with providing statewide resources for women’s education and supporting programs designed to help women achieve their financial goals. Doing so will reduce the gender pay gap and create a solid foundation for future jobs.
Oklahoma working women are in crisis, and Everyone He is suffering in our country. The business community and regional representatives must support women-owned companies and women entrepreneurs in this time of greatest need.
Lauren Minge is the founder and CEO of Quintessa Marketing, an Oklahoma City marketing firm and business coach for women.
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