Coming Out of the Box | GROW- Women, Business and the Norms That Decide How Far They Can Go

What happens when the barriers facing women entrepreneurs are not only about access to finance—but also about the social and gender norms that shape who controls money, owns assets, makes decisions and has the freedom to pursue economic opportunities? In Uganda, women entrepreneurs are building businesses, accessing finance and creating opportunities for themselves and their families. But their ability to grow can still be shaped by expectations and decisions within households, communities and markets. Coming Out of the Box explores what happens when these realities are brought into the economic empowerment conversation. Through the experiences of women entrepreneurs and the people around them, the film looks at the barriers women face, the conversations that can challenge them, and the possibilities that emerge when women have greater agency to make decisions about their businesses and their futures. The film is part of the GROW Project, implemented by the Government of Uganda with support from the World Bank, and highlights work to address social and gender norms alongside women's economic empowerment. This is not a story about barriers disappearing overnight. It is about women pushing against them, families and communities beginning to question them, and what becomes possible when women are given greater space to make decisions, take opportunities and grow. Coming Out of the Box Women, Business and the Norms That Decide How Far They Can Go #GROWUganda #WomenEntrepreneurs #GenderEquality #SocialNorms #EconomicEmpowerment #Uganda