Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451373
6 8 G R A P H I C S P R O J U N E 2 0 2 2 G R A PH I C S - PR O.C O M ACCESS TO FUNDING When it comes to venture capital, the times haven't changed as much as we'd like to think they have. A 2014 Babson College report found that only 3% of companies funded by venture capital had a female as chief executive ocer. Venture capitalists tend to invest in companies run by people like them, and since most venture capital rms tend to be run by men, that means that women may have an uphill battle when sourcing funding. Although there are currently some women-led venture capital rms and more options for women-led funding are developing, the process is slow to develop. To address this issue, we need to have more women investing in other women, which means more women controlling capi- tal and in a position to extend funds to other women. SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS Lack of access to credit and funding is just one of the hurdles a woman who wants to start a business may face. Another hurdle is societal expectations. While this is slowly changing, women often still do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to childcare, home upkeep, and family maintenance chores. Schools are still more likely to call mom than dad when a child is sick or needs something. Women are more likely to be expected to stay home if a child is sick or has a day o from school. Women are also more likely to become the caretakers for elderly family members who need assistance, whether it's helping with things like transport to doctor visits or managing care for a family member living with them. is, naturally, cuts into the time that a woman can spend on creating and growing a business. ere can also be societal backlash for women who elect to devote themselves to a business and elect not to pursue relationships or have children. While men will often be praised for working long hours or being devoted to nurturing a growing business, women will be criticized for the exact same behavior.