Balancing Budgets and Breaking Barriers

As living costs remain high across Lancashire, affecting everything from energy bills to childcare, women from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds face an additional layer of challenges. My research shines a spotlight on how cultural expectations, family roles, and economic pressures influence the career paths of many South Asian women in particular in my home county of Lancashire. 

Despite inflation coming back down to near the Bank of England’s target more recently, the impacts of the steep increases in the cost of living continue to affect household budgets. Yet for many BME women, this only intensifies existing challenges. Taking on flexible or lower-paid jobs over continuing education or training may seem like the practical option when finances get tight, but it can leave little room for longterm progression. Some women are starting “side hustles” (from online baking businesses to home-based beauty services) just to keep their heads above water. While these ventures can help boost income, the instability often makes it hard to focus on upskilling or moving into better-paying positions.

One thing that became clear from my research is how cultural and familial factors influence a woman’s choice of work in addition to the external barriers BME women face such as racism in the labour market. Elders in the family, for example, might still see a daughter’s or daughter-in-law’s primary role as caregiving, an important and respected tradition that can inadvertently limit professional development.  

“I wanted to apply for a management role in the next town, but my in-laws felt it was too far. They worry about me not having time for the family.” – Yasmin, mid-30s 

This example captures the delicate balancing act: a steady job with potential for growth vs. cultural expectations to stay local and keep up with household duties.  

The research emphasises that the earliest stages of education play a powerful role in shaping future mindsets. Teaching young people that it’s perfectly normal and beneficial for women to pursue diverse careers can pave the way for real change. By addressing gender stereotypes in primary schools, girls can grow up viewing leadership roles or further education as standard options rather than distant aspirations. Boys, in turn, learn to value and support these ambitions and to see the importance of contributing to care and domestic work themselves.

Yet, the key isn’t just the classroom. Because decisions often involve extended family, having open discussions with community elders about the benefits of women’s professional growth is crucial. When cultural gatekeepers understand how work opportunities can improve a family’s stability and well-being, they may become allies rather than obstacles.

Another pressing issue is the limited availability of data detailing how ethnicity and gender affect employment trends. Without these specifics, it’s hard to know where inequalities lie or which policies are likely to be most effective. Government funding can be equally vague. In doing my research, I found that budgets set aside for women’s employment or training aren’t always clearly identified as supporting BME groups, making it hard to tell how effective these programmes really are.

Insisting on more transparent funding; where each initiative clearly states its objectives and target demographic would empower both local authorities and communities to see what works. A more detailed picture could then guide initiatives like culturally aware mentorships or targeted childcare provisions.

The good news is that despite the squeeze on incomes, many BME women in Lancashire are showing creativity and resilience. A resilience they inherited from their parents and parents’ parents who immigrated to the UK for a better life leaving behind all that is familiar. 

They’re finding ways to contribute financially and manage family needs, often under enormous pressure. But while individual perseverance is admirable, deeper structural changes remain essential. Women from racially minoritised backgrounds in the UK face unique challenges due to systemic and structural barriers, there is no getting away from that fact.

This research ultimately calls for a multi-layered approach: comprehensive data to shape effective policy, open conversations that respect cultural values, and early education to spark ambition and acceptance. When women aren’t forced to choose between tradition and opportunity—and when living costs aren’t dictating the career paths of entire families—everyone in Lancashire stands to benefit.