The Bush Administration Sends A Message: Women-Owned Businesses Are Not Worth Even 5%
Admit it. Women in business already have a hard enough time in the economic arena establishing themselves as a viable, competitive force. Sometimes, not only are they not taken as seriously as their male counterparts, but they very often have to underbid their competitors just to get the job. And sometimes, they still don’t get the job.
Then, we find out that the SBA wants to limit us in contract bidding. No, they want to eliminate us. Sad, but they think we’re not even worth 5% of the available 100% of the government bidding contracts. In a move that would barely scratch let alone level the playing field, the Bush Administration’s seven-year campaign to eliminate this already disheveled program sends a message that women business owners are not (by opinion) worthy of certain business dealings. Maybe they just want to keep in the cigar room.
While I am certainly not one to cry and whine, this does make me wonder what this is all about. I mean, what are they afraid of?
That we will take more than 5% of the contracts?
That we will do a better job than our male counterparts?
That we just don’t need to fool with “those kinds of things?”
What gives? If there are any readers who have knowledge with this or have experienced this, I would love to know why is is that we can’t seem to get a small percentage of the business fun when the government says it is available.
What do you think?
Tags: Bush-Administration, cigar-room, government-contracts, SBA, women-and-economics, women-in-businessRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Biz Chick News, Commerce, Starting a Business
4 opinions for The Bush Administration Sends A Message: Women-Owned Businesses Are Not Worth Even 5%
Shannon Cherry
Jan 14, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The Jim Crow laws are alive and well when it comes to contracts and women-owned businesses. They expect us to meet all these pre-qualifications to just get our foot in the door.
It also happens A LOT on the start level, especially in NYS, where I am from.
Cory
Jan 14, 2008 at 3:22 pm
While I’m not one to give this adminstration the benefit of any doubt, this post is missing a crucial piece of information: What percentage of contract-eligible businesses are women-owned? I.e., are there enough women-owned businesses to fulfill 5 percent of government contracts? Ten percent? Twenty percent? Fifty percent? You need to include more info here.
Bridget Wright
Jan 16, 2008 at 7:37 am
Shannon, you are so right that we are expected to meet ALL sorts of pre-qualifiying factors, but still are not promised any contracts, nor are there even hints of any. Change must come!
Bridget Wright
Jan 16, 2008 at 7:44 am
Cory, I see your point, but while there is a question of how many contract-eligible businesses there are run by women, wouldn’t it stand to reason that it shouldn’t matter? Let’s say there are only 1000 women-owned businesses and given that perhaps only 900 of them are “contract-eligible”. Shouldn’t all 900 receive the government contract? And, contract-eligible simply means that the business is woman-owned, so that goes back to the original 1000. All the contracts should have been awarded to the female-owned businesses (of those that applied, of course). However, in the spirit of fact-checking and correct reporting, I have emailed the SBA with my (our) question and am awaiting an answer. This should be interesting and insightful. Cory, thank you for your directness and for bringing up the question. We shall see…
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