“It makes sense then for Latinas to think ‘I need more money, and the only way I’m going to get more money is if I’m my own boss,'” Joelle Martinez, President & CEO of the Latino Leadership Institute, said in this recent Forbes article highlighting the growing trend of Latinas turning to entrepreneurship as a way to address persistent wage inequities and build wealth.
Despite Latinas facing the widest gender pay gap in the U.S. — earning just 51 cents for every dollar earned by white men — they are leading in business creation. Before the pandemic, Latina-owned businesses were growing six times faster than the national average, a trend that has continued post-pandemic.
Entrepreneurship allows Latinas to overcome workplace barriers, such as limited leadership opportunities and workplace biases, by creating flexible, self-directed careers. However, challenges remain, including limited access to venture capital and business-building resources.
Read more: How Latinas Are Combating The Wage Gap Via Entrepreneurship
