“Saudi businesswomen rely on personal savings to fund their businesses and do not seek external financing to start and manage their endeavors, which shows that it’s not only about deploying money alone but about taking an interest in nurturing a business with efficient management,” says Noor Khaled, a business consultant based in Saudi Arabia. While the numbers are rising, there are many Saudi women who encounter obstacles in representing themselves as entrepreneurs.
Challenges Faced by Saudi WomenAccording to a study carried out by Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, some of the major issues faced by women are:
- Self-confidence: The study found that even though these women appear to be confident, there is often an underlying lack of self-belief which becomes evident in the strong fear of judgment from the society, failure, hesitation in decision making, etc.
- Autonomy: As a result of the social restrictions imposed on women, there is a lack of personal-initiate, self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
- Self-esteem: Many of the women who were a part of the study suffered from low self-esteem. The causes ranged from diverse factors, ranging from fear of failure to appearance. While there are good treatments for acne and other skin problems, the psychological hindrances take a great deal of personal effort to overcome.
How Skin Problems Affect Self-EsteemSkin problem like acne affect more than just skin. It has a deep psychological and social impact as well. Women who have acne tend to be conscious about their body image and have lower confidence than those who feel they look great. This has a significant impact on self-esteem. In fact, skin conditions have led to social withdrawal among some, which can have a huge negative impact on any entrepreneurial dreams. In extreme cases, such conditions have led to depression.
It is critical to address all aspects of self-esteem. There are skin clinics that have effective treatments for acne and other skin conditions, which can help professional women look great and feel good about their appearance. A feeling that you are looking good contributes significantly towards building confidence.