Are women-owned businesses really severely underrepresented in the Federal government marketplace?

Despite the fact that there are more than 10 million women-owned businesses (WOB's) in the U.S., here are some disappointing statistics.



Have most women (minority and non-minority alike) truly suffered from severe and chronic gender discrimination, that has had and continues to have a negative effect on their education, work experience, business success, and economic well-being?

Let's look at some incidents that could rise to the level of gender discrimination required by the SBA to be certified in the 8(a) program.

• Have you ever been denied access to a class or course during your school years because you were told that these classes were meant for "boys"?
• Have you ever failed to receive the same "on-the-job training" as your male counterparts simply because management thought that after training you, you would just go off, get married and "start a family"?
• Have you ever been paid less for doing the same work as any of your male colleagues, despite the fact that your education and experience were equivalent to theirs?
• Were you ever denied a "well-earned promotion" only to discover that your employer didn't think that a woman supervisor could lead other men?
• Have you ever been denied access to a "decision-maker" and found out that he wouldn't waste his time talking to a woman who "shouldn't be in this defense business anyhow"?
• Were you ever exposed to a work environment where meetings, decisions, and presentations were conducted in such places as bars, hotel rooms, or during weekend golf outings with the "boys"?
• Did a banker ever ask you to bring your husband along to discuss a loan, despite the fact that you explained to him that your husband is not involved in the business, or that you are not even married?
• Have you ever been asked to "take it or leave it" during a contract negotiation, and told that "companies like yours" are just lucky to be considered at all?
• Have you ever found out that one of your male employees could "cut a better deal" than you, simply because your client said he could negotiate "real tough" with a woman?
• Have you ever lost a job during your work career because of an "alleged RIF", only to be replaced by a higher-paid male, with even less qualifications than you?

Which certification program is best for your particular business situation and also which certification program are you qualified to be a participate within?

The truth is that if you qualify for the 8(a) program, you will certainly qualify for either the EDWOSB or WOSB programs, if your business area, i.e., NAICS code is among the 83 NAICS codes eligible to participate in the WOSB programs. If you do not qualify for the 8(a) certification, you may qualify for the EDWOSB program if you can prove your economic disadvantage. What are the requirements?

• Adjusted Gross Income less than $200,000 per year averaged over the last 3 years
• Adjusted Net Worth less than $750,000
• Assets less than $3M

If you do not qualify for the EDWOSB certification, almost any WOB will qualify for the WOSB certification if your NAICS code is among the 45 NAICS codes eligible to participate in the WOSB program, you are a small business and a U.S. citizen.