Research shows that female entrepreneurs invest more in education, but still earn less than men.

247 - Brazil celebrated this Sunday (17) the National Women Entrepreneur Day, a date aimed at valuing the role of female entrepreneurship and drawing attention to the challenges faced by women who decide to start their own business. According to a survey carried out by the MaisMei platform, which specializes in the management of individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEI), gender inequality is also reflected in this sector, even when women have a higher level of education.

According to data released by MaisMei, among individual micro-entrepreneurs in the country, 22,2% of women have completed higher education, compared to only 8,8% of men. However, this extra qualification does not translate into higher pay: only 16,3% of them manage to earn more than R$ 4 per month, while among men the rate reaches 33,1%. The gap widens in incomes above R$ 6, a range in which 11,3% of men are included, compared to only 4,9% of women.

“Considering the number of Brazilian professionals working under a MEI (Individual Microentrepreneur) registration, around 16 million, we realize that the level of income inequality in terms of gender is also significant outside of large companies, where women receive less for performing the same functions,” assesses Kályta Caetano, an accountant specializing in MEI at MaisMei. She adds: “It is possible to find some justifications, such as the predominant areas of activity among men and women, but it is still a worrying proportion if we consider that female entrepreneurs invest more in professional development.”

The profile of micro-entrepreneurs

According to the research, the majority of women who are self-employed (MEI) identify as Black, are between 35 and 44 years old, and have completed high school. The commerce and sales sector is the most representative, concentrating 27,8% of these entrepreneurs. Regarding revenue, 23,2% earn up to R$ 2 per month, and 26,6% earn between R$ 2 and R$ 4. Currently, they represent approximately 44% of all micro-entrepreneurs in the country.

The double shift for women in the micro-entrepreneur (MEI)

According to Caetano, one of the factors that most impacts inequality is the overload of responsibilities. “Regarding dedication to micro-entrepreneurs (MEI), men tend to invest more weekly hours in their businesses than women, who frequently work shorter hours, because there is no equality in the allocation of domestic tasks. In other words, women are practically forced to seek a balance between life and work, resulting in a double shift,” he explains.

This reality was also confirmed by the research "Panorama of Female Entrepreneurship in Brazil," conducted by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Business (MEMP). The study indicates that family responsibilities reduce by 17% the time that women can dedicate to their businesses. Another obstacle is access to credit: 42% of them had their requests denied, often due to gender bias, lack of collateral, or insufficient credit history.

Advances and challenges

According to the expert from MaisMei, the efforts of Brazilian women entrepreneurs need to be more recognized. “These data highlight the importance of creating environments that facilitate access to resources such as credit and support networks, focusing on training and reducing bureaucracy. It is essential that the market promotes equal opportunities, valuing individual merit and encouraging competitiveness, without excessive intervention,” emphasizes Caetano.

The survey “O Corre do MEI” polled 5.640 micro-entrepreneurs who use the platform, achieving a 99% confidence level and a 2% margin of error.