Women in Business: An Ever-Changing Field
By: Esha Walia, Officer of Research and Publication
Business — a fast-evolving subject, a staple in the economy, the backbone of modern society. This world would not be possible without women, who are continuing to have a powerful impact in business. In fact, in 2021, 49% of new businesses were started by women, and more women than ever before are choosing to major in business in college. This change is marked by many factors, and the future of the business world largely lies in the hands of women as the field continues to grow.
Business administration is a more popular major now than ever before for women at Northeastern University. For the first time since the school was founded in 1879, the D’Amore-McKim School of Business has an even, 50–50 ratio of women to men. This has led to Northeastern University ranking #5 in undergraduate business schools with the highest number of women.
This marks a huge step for women, and it poses a deeper analysis of why more women than ever before are deciding to make business their major.
In order to gather diverse perspectives on the inclusiveness of women in the business world, a survey was conducted with members of Northeastern’s Women in Business Club. In this survey, respondents were asked to discuss their experiences as women in the business school and opportunities they see for changes to be made.
When asked about the inclusiveness of Northeastern University’s business school, one-third of female respondents ranked D’Amore-McKim as a “very inclusive” environment for women who are studying business, while another one-third of respondents ranked the environment as “inclusive.” This displays how universities have been changing over the past few decades to become not only a more inclusive place for women but also to become a place where women can grow and leverage their careers.
Beyond just becoming more inclusive in the classroom, Northeastern has become a place where women have opportunities to come together in extracurricular activities. Student organizations like Women in Business, Women in Finance, and the Women’s Interdisciplinary Society of Entrepreneurship strive to create communities for women on campus to make them feel more included and empowered to take on big roles in the business world.
As one survey respondent stated, “I think clubs and safe spaces like Women in Business allow women to feel comfortable. This increases inclusivity and encourages women to want to be in the field even more with a group to fall back onto for support.”
These clubs not only provide a chance to meet like-minded women but also create networking opportunities, whether it is for co-op or for a full-time job after graduation. Mentorship programs have been especially crucial in this development, as they enable young women who are just starting college to be paired with an upperclassman who has gone through the process and can offer guidance.
“I think the mentorship program is so helpful because it creates a community and a group that girls in college can always rely on! The business environment is known to be more male-dominated and so by having these types of programs, girls can have role models and positive female influences,” says Rutvi Shah, a Mentorship Chair of Women in Business.
Even though universities have made great strides in becoming a more inclusive space for women, there is still room for improvement. In many cases, especially in the classroom, it is difficult for women to feel like their voices are being heard and that they have the opportunity to speak up without judgment. Gender bias is still a very prevalent topic. In fact, over 40% of respondents stated that they have felt the impact of gender bias while taking a business course at Northeastern. This is very comparable to the workplace, where 42% of women have stated that they have experienced gender discrimination while at work (Pew Research Center).
Emma Arnese, a fifth-year student studying marketing, has had multiple experiences as a student in D’Amore-McKim where she has felt singled out because of her gender. “I was the only girl in my group project; I was elected to the role of project management since I was inherently organized. Another time, my teacher suggested my primary role be in charge of slide design, essentially ‘making things pretty.’ In both of these examples, I felt as though my gender made me seem only capable of possessing soft skills rather than any technical expertise,” she stated.
Emma’s experience highlights the forms of bias that many women in business face, especially when they are in college. Thus, it is crucial for young women to be able to develop their confidence and surround themselves with other women and people who are supportive, especially when going into the workforce.
When heading into co-ops, it can be intimidating to enter the workplace as a young woman with little experience. 25% of respondents found the work environment of their co-op to be very inclusive, so there is a lot more progress to be made in regards to workplace inclusivity. Thus, it can be daunting to start this new chapter of entering the professional space. To help ensure that one is entering a positive working environment, it is important to build a network, find women who can serve as mentors/role models at the company, and to research in advance to ensure that the company creates an inclusive environment.
As women in business, it is vital to form a sense of community and foster an environment that will launch women into successful careers. The effects of gender bias are felt throughout the workforce. Looking to the future, it is crucial that universities take action to ensure that their classroom environments are more inclusive and that women feel that they can speak up without judgment because ultimately, women play a huge role in the future of business. This culture can be improved by holding ourselves accountable for unconscious biases we may be presenting, getting more involved in women-focused organizations, and having conversations about inclusivity in both the classroom and workplace.
Sources:
https://post.edu/blog/why-more-women-are-enrolling-in-business-school/
https://damore-mckim.northeastern.edu/explore/key-statistics-rankings/
