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SEX MATTERS FOR BUSINESS

Are men better at business, or women, what is the truth about this seriously debated issue?

Men by tradition are the bread makers, the "hunter gatherers", but all this has changed and women are now more independent.

Single women have carved successful businesses especially in the fashion area with clothes, jewellery, shoes etc. Auction web sites like eBay and QXL offer many the chance to market surplus goods, and from that get a taste for business. Before long a simple pocket money venture can become a vast business empire.

Financing a home and family has become more costly, the needs and desires for the family unit demand a big income that the man is hard pressed to achieve, hence the woman has been "forced" by circumstance to work, part time at least. Child care costs can make working from home more practical where BOTH partners need to work, so a home based business becomes attractive for at least one working partner.

Man is usually the risk taker, and main decision maker so on the surface at least still dominates the scene of business ownership, but women are fast catching up. info on stats

Women come in all ages and it's clear that more younger women are starting small business ventures, both those who want to be a big success, and those homebound, looking after their partner and maybe children. Extra cash is always useful and women prefer THEIR own money, earned by their own toil, rather than a "housekeeping allowance", hence the desire to start off small from home with a business venture.

With children grown up the woman is ready to return to full time work, and may well have already tasted independence through part time work or a small business, which offers a spring board to a bigger, better business once she is able to work full time.

More and more couples who are both working are now employing cleaners, gardeners, decorators and other services to undertake much of the routine work previously allotted to, or undertaken by women. The quality of the end job is often better than the owners may do themselves, mainly as time if often at a premium and being tired at the end of the day they may skips some duties.

With domestic duties in professional hands this means both partners can carve attractive well paid careers or focus on a business venture alone or together.

So maybe a JOINT business can work for both partners since the male/female divide does have certain intrinsic aspects that can help a business, make your own judgements as to how fair this analysis is;

• risk - men

• caution - women

• planning - men

• communication - women

• staff control - women

• transport - men

• stock control - either

• computers - men

For the above comment you can see that a business partnership of mixed sexes may be better than a single sex business partnership which may have some weaknesses. A male/female provides balance but other issues can still make such a venture impractical or unsuccessful. Food for thought!

Useful web sites

Wiley: What Men Don't Tell Women About Business. a self-confessed former "Alpha male" reveals how many men view business, how they view women in business, and the secrets they might tell.

Please feel free to Contact Us with questions or to give us information to add to our knowledge base.