{"id":430959,"date":"2025-12-19T15:06:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=430959"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:06:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:06:05","slug":"ce-quon-dit-jamais-vie-femmes-entrepreneures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/what-is-never-said-about-the-lives-of-women-entrepreneurs-430959","title":{"rendered":"Things that are never said about the lives of women entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Behind the inspiring portraits of female entrepreneurs often highlighted, the daily reality is more nuanced, even more difficult than one might think. While the figures show an increase in female entrepreneurship, numerous systemic obstacles persist. Financing, work-life balance, mental load, isolation: these are all factors that complicate their journey, far beyond the narratives of success.<\/p>\n<h2> Access to financing: a persistent major obstacle<\/h2>\n<p> According to the 2025 barometer from <a href=\"https:\/\/tpeactu.fr\/2025\/03\/07\/lentrepreneuriat-des-femmes-en-france-etat-des-lieux-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TPE Actu<\/a> , 48% of women entrepreneurs identify access to financing as a major obstacle, compared to 29% of men. This gap is explained in particular by persistent prejudices, underrepresentation in investor networks, and business models wrongly considered less profitable. Lacking external resources, many women turn to self-financing or create smaller-scale businesses, which limits their long-term development. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSaYyX5jKNQ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\"> View this post on Instagram <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"> <a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DSaYyX5jKNQ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by The Body Optimist (@thebodyoptimist)<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2> The double burden of mental load<\/h2>\n<p> Far from the image of absolute autonomy, entrepreneurship as a woman also means juggling professional responsibilities and domestic tasks. Nearly 50% of female entrepreneurs report experiencing burnout, often linked to excessive workloads and an unequal distribution of family responsibilities. Among female executives\u2014a profile similar to that of female entrepreneurs\u201485% report a negative impact on their mental health, compared to 77% of men.<\/p>\n<h2> Work-life balance: a constant challenge<\/h2>\n<p> Flexibility, often cited as an advantage of entrepreneurship, can backfire on women. Working from home increases the blurring of boundaries between personal and professional life, raising the risk of burnout. A 2024 survey by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ined.fr\/fr\/actualites\/presse\/plus-de-8-femmes-sur-10-disent-que-la-fatigue-du-travail-pese-sur-leur-vie-privee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">INED<\/a> (the French National Institute for Demographic Studies) highlights that 85% of women feel that work-related fatigue impacts their personal lives, compared to 78% of men.<\/p>\n<h2> Isolation, limited networks, and self-confidence<\/h2>\n<p> Another major obstacle is the lack of professional networks for women, which are still largely dominated by male-dominated dynamics. This hinders access to mentorship, opportunities, and visibility. At the same time, imposter syndrome significantly affects female entrepreneurs: 25% cite a lack of confidence as a barrier, often linked to an unsupportive or even sexist environment.<\/p>\n<p>Several avenues are emerging to improve the conditions of women entrepreneurs. On an individual level, delegation, the establishment of strict working hours, and support from women&#39;s networks can reduce burnout and improve productivity. On a collective level, more inclusive public policies, dedicated funding, and mentorship initiatives could accelerate equal opportunities in entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Behind the inspiring portraits of female entrepreneurs often highlighted, the daily reality is more nuanced, even more difficult...","protected":false},"author":8394,"featured_media":430961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72943],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-430959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-feminisme"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ce-quon-ne-dit-jamais-sur-la-vie-des-femmes-entrepreneures-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ce-quon-ne-dit-jamais-sur-la-vie-des-femmes-entrepreneures-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ce-quon-ne-dit-jamais-sur-la-vie-des-femmes-entrepreneures.jpg","author":{"name":"L\u00e9a Michel","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1721220128171-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":72943,"name":"Feminism","slug":"feminisme","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":73115,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Feminism section of The Body Optimist covers gender equality in everyday life: everyday sexism, violence against women, work, the domestic load, rights and representation. Its explainers, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand inequality and act against it, with special attention to the pressures placed on women\u2019s bodies.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Feminism section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Everyday sexism<\/strong>: remarks, jokes and expressions that normalize inequality, like the familiar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/you-scare-men-a-remark-often-made-to-women-sparks-debate-439175\">\u201cyou scare men\u201d comment<\/a> so many women hear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Violence and harassment<\/strong>: street and online harassment, consent, intimate partner violence and tools to help recognize abuse early.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work and money<\/strong>: pay gaps, entrepreneurship, the division of household labor and the extra expenses that inequality places on women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and expectations<\/strong>: body hair, clothing, age and appearance, and the debates over women\u2019s freedom to decide about their own bodies and image.<\/li>\n<li><strong>History and symbols<\/strong>: pioneers, inventors and rallying symbols that tell the story of feminist movements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s rights around the world<\/strong>: access to education, sports and public space, and the fights being waged from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/afghan-private-schools-defy-the-ban-on-teaching-431358\">Afghan girls defying the ban on schooling<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you respond to everyday sexism?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to everyday sexism starts with naming what was just said, without justifying yourself or apologizing. A few strategies that work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask a neutral question (\u201cCan you explain what you mean?\u201d): having to spell out a remark is often enough to defuse it.<\/li>\n<li>Describe the facts instead of judging the person (\u201cThat joke reduces women to their looks\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Assess your safety: you are never obligated to respond on the spot.<\/li>\n<li>At work, write down dates, words and witnesses: in many countries, sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace are against the law.<\/li>\n<li>As a bystander, support the person being targeted rather than letting silence validate the remark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For situations at the office, our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">setting boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a> offers more concrete responses.<\/p>\n<h2>Our approach: an inclusive, practical feminism<\/h2>\n<p>Our feminism includes all women: fat or thin, women of color, lesbian, trans, disabled, younger or older. We connect the big questions of equality to lived situations, from a comment at the office to the division of chores, and we prefer explanations and practical steps to controversy, without ranking struggles or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/invisible-costs-women-bear-daily-436496\">invisible costs women bear every day<\/a>, and what they reveal about inequality.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/the-cool-girl-myth-when-being-desirable-mostly-means-never-causing-a-disturbance-447055\">\u201ccool girl\u201d myth<\/a>, or how being seen as desirable often comes down to never making waves.<\/li>\n<li>Why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/why-is-a-womans-body-a-subject-of-debate-after-45-years-444443\">women\u2019s bodies after 45<\/a> are still such a hot topic, and what ageism has to do with it.<\/li>\n<li>How <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/outfits-deemed-inappropriate-dress-code-reveals-inequalities-between-men-and-women-434311\">dress codes<\/a> expose double standards between men and women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is feminism?<\/h3>\n<p>Feminism refers to the ideas and movements that seek equal rights, opportunities and living conditions for women and men. It spans many schools of thought that share one observation: inequality between the sexes is socially constructed, which means it can be challenged, in the law as well as in attitudes.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between sexism and misogyny?<\/h3>\n<p>Sexism covers prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on sex, often so normalized that they go unnoticed. Misogyny refers more specifically to contempt or hostility toward women. A joke about \u201cwomen drivers\u201d is everyday sexism; a speech claiming that women are incompetent by nature is misogyny.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the mental load?<\/h3>\n<p>The mental load is the invisible work of anticipating and organizing household and family life: remembering appointments, groceries, birthdays and whatever is running low. Even when chores are shared, this project-manager role still often falls to women, with effects on their fatigue and their free time.<\/p>\n<h3>What should you do if you experience intimate partner violence?<\/h3>\n<p>If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number in your country. Many countries have a free, confidential helpline for people experiencing domestic violence, and a doctor, a social worker or a specialized organization can help you plan your next steps. Tools such as the \u201cviolentometer,\u201d a scale that runs from green to red, can also help you recognize behaviors that call for caution or signal danger.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Explore all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> topics, along with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> sections.<\/p>","parent":5678,"count":217,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":72943,"category_count":217,"category_description":"<p>The Feminism section of The Body Optimist covers gender equality in everyday life: everyday sexism, violence against women, work, the domestic load, rights and representation. Its explainers, first-person stories and practical advice are for anyone who wants to understand inequality and act against it, with special attention to the pressures placed on women\u2019s bodies.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Feminism section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Everyday sexism<\/strong>: remarks, jokes and expressions that normalize inequality, like the familiar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/you-scare-men-a-remark-often-made-to-women-sparks-debate-439175\">\u201cyou scare men\u201d comment<\/a> so many women hear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Violence and harassment<\/strong>: street and online harassment, consent, intimate partner violence and tools to help recognize abuse early.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work and money<\/strong>: pay gaps, entrepreneurship, the division of household labor and the extra expenses that inequality places on women.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bodies and expectations<\/strong>: body hair, clothing, age and appearance, and the debates over women\u2019s freedom to decide about their own bodies and image.<\/li>\n<li><strong>History and symbols<\/strong>: pioneers, inventors and rallying symbols that tell the story of feminist movements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s rights around the world<\/strong>: access to education, sports and public space, and the fights being waged from Afghanistan to Ethiopia, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/afghan-private-schools-defy-the-ban-on-teaching-431358\">Afghan girls defying the ban on schooling<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you respond to everyday sexism?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to everyday sexism starts with naming what was just said, without justifying yourself or apologizing. A few strategies that work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask a neutral question (\u201cCan you explain what you mean?\u201d): having to spell out a remark is often enough to defuse it.<\/li>\n<li>Describe the facts instead of judging the person (\u201cThat joke reduces women to their looks\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>Assess your safety: you are never obligated to respond on the spot.<\/li>\n<li>At work, write down dates, words and witnesses: in many countries, sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace are against the law.<\/li>\n<li>As a bystander, support the person being targeted rather than letting silence validate the remark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For situations at the office, our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/how-to-set-boundaries-in-the-face-of-unsolicited-advances-at-work-447161\">setting boundaries with unwanted advances at work<\/a> offers more concrete responses.<\/p>\n<h2>Our approach: an inclusive, practical feminism<\/h2>\n<p>Our feminism includes all women: fat or thin, women of color, lesbian, trans, disabled, younger or older. We connect the big questions of equality to lived situations, from a comment at the office to the division of chores, and we prefer explanations and practical steps to controversy, without ranking struggles or pitting women against each other.<\/p>\n<h2>Articles to start with<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/invisible-costs-women-bear-daily-436496\">invisible costs women bear every day<\/a>, and what they reveal about inequality.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/the-cool-girl-myth-when-being-desirable-mostly-means-never-causing-a-disturbance-447055\">\u201ccool girl\u201d myth<\/a>, or how being seen as desirable often comes down to never making waves.<\/li>\n<li>Why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/why-is-a-womans-body-a-subject-of-debate-after-45-years-444443\">women\u2019s bodies after 45<\/a> are still such a hot topic, and what ageism has to do with it.<\/li>\n<li>How <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/feminisme\/outfits-deemed-inappropriate-dress-code-reveals-inequalities-between-men-and-women-434311\">dress codes<\/a> expose double standards between men and women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>What is feminism?<\/h3>\n<p>Feminism refers to the ideas and movements that seek equal rights, opportunities and living conditions for women and men. It spans many schools of thought that share one observation: inequality between the sexes is socially constructed, which means it can be challenged, in the law as well as in attitudes.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between sexism and misogyny?<\/h3>\n<p>Sexism covers prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on sex, often so normalized that they go unnoticed. Misogyny refers more specifically to contempt or hostility toward women. A joke about \u201cwomen drivers\u201d is everyday sexism; a speech claiming that women are incompetent by nature is misogyny.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the mental load?<\/h3>\n<p>The mental load is the invisible work of anticipating and organizing household and family life: remembering appointments, groceries, birthdays and whatever is running low. Even when chores are shared, this project-manager role still often falls to women, with effects on their fatigue and their free time.<\/p>\n<h3>What should you do if you experience intimate partner violence?<\/h3>\n<p>If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number in your country. Many countries have a free, confidential helpline for people experiencing domestic violence, and a doctor, a social worker or a specialized organization can help you plan your next steps. Tools such as the \u201cviolentometer,\u201d a scale that runs from green to red, can also help you recognize behaviors that call for caution or signal danger.<\/p>\n<p>Want to go further? Explore all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\">Society<\/a> topics, along with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/grossophobie\">Fatphobia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> sections.<\/p>","cat_name":"Feminism","category_nicename":"feminisme","category_parent":5678}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=430959"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":430964,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/430959\/revisions\/430964"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/430961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=430959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=430959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=430959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}