PLEASE STOP CALLING ME A “MUMPRENEUR”

I’ve been called many things in my life and relate to a lot of the labels people place on me; mummy, business owner, daughter, grand daughter, feminist, flexible working advocate, team member. One these I absolutely loath being called is a “Mumpreneur or Mompreneur”. It is SO problematic, and here’s why.

We’re seeing a huge increase in online businesses, which is A-MAZ-ING. The online world opens up huge opportunities, creating a platform for men and women to showcase their talents. There are literally thousands of support groups for these business owners on social media, a large proportion of which focus on the fact that some women have children too - like successful women with children is an unfathomable concept!!

Those of us with children know how consuming they are and how they always take center stage in our lives, however, that’s true for most parents regardless of sex. So when women are continually asked “how do you cope running a business AND being a mum?” it insinuates that its a phenomenon. Do you ever hear men being asked the same question? or being labelled a “dadpreneur”? No. Of course not!

The real problem is that a lot of women are business owners before they become mothers, so why do you suddenly become a “mompreneur” once you have children? It’s not the same for other professions, women that are teachers before children, are still teachers when they return. So, we have to ask ourselves why is running your own business different? The harsh truth is that this word is designed to segregate us, to down play our accomplishments (as if being a women in business isn’t hard enough right?!).

I am a business owner. I am also a SINGLE mum who takes care of every aspect of my home; cleaning, DIY, decorating… I co-parent with my son’s father and between us we do play-dates, we take him to the farm, we do bedtime every night and read him stories. We both work long hours, are ambitious and serious about our careers.

My business isn’t a little hobby, it’s a real revenue generating, relevant business supporting other women. We need to stop creating these buzz words that devalue us and the contribution we make to society.

My primary business goal is to make an income, whilst making an impact.

So, please stop referring to me and other women in business as “mumpreneurs”, we are SO much more than that!