Almost half of Ukrainian female entrepreneurs have encountered sexism in business — study

Almost half of Ukrainian women entrepreneurs have encountered gender-based bias or manifestations of sexism while doing business. 47% of respondents reported such an experience, while 50% of respondents noted that they had not encountered such an attitude.

This is evidenced by the results of the study “Women in Business: Economy and Trends of Entrepreneurship in Ukraine”, conducted by the Top Lead agency and the Sociological Group “Rating” in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and YouControl.

The survey was conducted in March 2026 among 602 current female entrepreneurs and 300 women planning to open their own business in Ukraine.

Where women most often encounter bias

According to the results of the study, manifestations of gender bias most often arise when communicating with clients.

32% of the surveyed female entrepreneurs reported such experience in communicating with current clients.

Another 21% of women have faced prejudice within their own team. The same proportion of respondents reported manifestations of sexism during negotiations with potential clients or participation in tenders.

Own business for women — first of all, the opportunity to have more freedom

For the majority of respondents, owning your own business is a conscious choice and opportunity, not a forced step.

This opinion is shared by 67% of current businesswomen and 70% of women who are just planning to start their own business.

The main advantage of entrepreneurship was called by 48% of current businesswomen the opportunity to have more freedom. At the same time, the opportunity to earn more was noted by 36% of respondents.

Even with the same income level, about 80% of respondents would choose their own business instead of working for an employer.

Among current businesswomen, 54% are clearly convinced of this choice. Among women planning to open a business, the corresponding position is shared by 41% of respondents.

What knowledge do Ukrainian female entrepreneurs need

The priorities of current and potential female entrepreneurs differ depending on the stage of business development.

Women who already have their own business are most focused on marketing and promotion — this area was called important by 44% of respondents.

Another 33% of current female entrepreneurs seek to gain more knowledge and tools for scaling their business.

In contrast, women who are just planning to start a business are most interested in financial planning and accounting — 41%.

38% of potential female entrepreneurs want to strengthen their sales skills, and 35% need more information on legal issues and taxation.

Another 20% of respondents called finding suppliers or business partners an important area.

The results of the study demonstrate that Ukrainian women increasingly perceive entrepreneurship as an opportunity to independently manage their own professional development. At the same time, a significant number of female entrepreneurs continue to face gender bias in the business environment.