A new wave of research shows more mothers are turning to entrepreneurship for greater freedom, better work-life balance, and autonomy. Yet they face barriers such as funding access, reliable childcare, and lingering biases in business and health sectors. The latest reporting highlights that parental ambition is growing, but systems don’t always support it.
The pattern resonates beyond Europe. In Thailand, shifting gender roles and economic pressures are reshaping how families balance careers and caregiving. Global data show a generational shift: a Mastercard study finds 29% of Gen Z women see themselves as entrepreneurs, compared with 17% of Gen X women. Data from Thailand’s Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) indicate a steady rise in women-led startups, especially in health, beauty, and tech. This aligns with national efforts to empower female founders, while acknowledging funding gaps and cultural stereotypes persist.
Common barriers cross borders. Researchers identify confidence gaps and childcare as major concerns. In Europe, about one in three women report a lack of confidence as a reason not to start a business, while affordable childcare remains critical for many. Thai industry surveys mirror this reality: urban mothers often struggle to find reliable, affordable childcare, limiting career advancement. The Bank of Thailand notes that women-led enterprises are less likely to secure loans than their male peers, reflecting enduring perceptions of ambition and risk.
Stories from practice illustrate both hurdles and rewards. Two dermatologists in Ireland who launched a clinic in 2019 largely funded their venture through personal investment, then expanded into a supplement brand and a skin-surgery center with ambitious growth plans. Their experience shows how family support, flexible arrangements, and navigating gendered expectations are crucial. They also highlight access to funding as a global challenge, noting women attract a smaller share of venture capital and face investor scrutiny focused more on risk than potential.
For Thailand, these insights carry practical meaning. Local female business owners report similar funding challenges. Thailand’s central bank notes a persistent loan gap for women-led enterprises, influenced by cultural expectations around ambition and risk. Research from Chulalongkorn University emphasizes the need for expanded, affordable childcare and flexible work practices to enable more women to pursue entrepreneurship.
Experts advocate constructive change. Some call for normalizing parental ambition for both mothers and fathers, arguing resilience, focus, and empathy are business assets. They urge more female-led investment teams and flexible funding models to counter bias. Others stress that ambition and good parenting can coexist with proper support.
Key recommendations include robust childcare support and stronger government backing. Proposals feature subsidized childcare, tax incentives for women-led businesses, and parental leave options that cover self-employed and informal workers. Educational reforms—longer school hours, expanded after-school programs, and better alignment with working parents’ needs—could ease the juggling act and reduce burnout.
Thai society is already moving in this direction. While traditional views still emphasize self-sacrifice in motherhood, more professional women refuse to choose between career and family. Some hospitals and companies are experimenting with on-site childcare and flexible schedules, though these practices remain the exception. Women’s networks, from Bangkok’s WE Committee to regional chambers, advocate policy changes and peer support to sustain momentum.
Looking ahead, Thailand faces demographic and economic shifts that will intensify the balance between entrepreneurship and caregiving. An aging population, urban migration, and lower birth rates increase reliance on dual incomes, while traditional childcare support declines. To maximize the impact of mothers’ entrepreneurial energy, policymakers, business leaders, and educators must pursue coordinated action: expand public childcare, provide incentives for female-led ventures, and cultivate an investment culture that values diverse leadership.
Thai readers can take away several lessons. First, work-life balance through entrepreneurship is a viable, increasingly common option. Second, building supportive networks—family, community, and professionals—remains essential to overcome barriers. Third, advocacy is crucial: pushing for better childcare, flexible workplaces, and fair funding can drive systemic change.
For policymakers and business leaders, the message is clear. Collaboration across government, the private sector, and communities to deliver affordable, high-quality childcare and equitable business support will unlock women’s economic potential and strengthen families.