Are women living in rural areas more likely to start up business for themselves? According to this article from the UK, they are almost twice as likely to do so. Apparently women there are taking advantage of broadband internet access to create income opportunities for themselves, especially to replace income lost from prior farming ventures. Additionally, women in these areas are starting businesses using this technology than the men are; men, however, are still starting businesses at a faster rate.
Why the difference, they ask? Studies are being done, of course (aren't they always?) but I can see several reasons and I bet they apply in the UK just as well as they do here in the USA. With telecommuting and working from home while raising your family being much more acceptable these days than even just two or five years ago (thanks in part to the high-speed computers and internet options), just about anyone with a passion for a product or service can build a business. You no longer have the requirement of a storefront in order to sell products as long as you've got a customer-focused website and an account with a shipping agent like UPS or FedEx. Hire a savvy webmaster, take some computer classes, or choose a webhost that provides easy-to-use site building tools and you've got it made. All one needs to get started is an eye for a good niche and a willingness to work hard to get things going.
As the first commenter over at the article mentioned, programs for selling items through eBay and other such sites has helped things along as well. Rather than working "for peanuts in a shop", women can take the reins, keep a low overhead, and earn profits for themselves rather than an employer. A commute from rural areas to job sites can be one of the biggest expenses for a Workerette; who wouldn't want to pass up lines at the gas station and traffic on the road for a trip down the hall to the computer?
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