Women take over male cafe society

A GROWING number of Aussie cafes are run by women, a surprising trend for an industry notorious for being a boys’ club.

Almost 40 per cent of cafe management in Australia is run by women, the Cafe Pulse report shows. This is ahead of overall small business ownership by women in Australia, which is at 34 per cent according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Cafes and restaurants were also among the top 10 small businesses chosen by women.

Campos cafe culture expert Will Young said the industry has lost its men’s club image.

“I’ve definitely noticed a significant increase in the number of women in the industry. If you went into a shop now, behind the counter it’s all women, whereas before it was all men,” he said. “More women are inspired to join the coffee industry. Even baristas, last few years women have won [international barista competitions] and 10 years ago barely any women competed.

“In the past, the hours of work and the male culture behind restaurants and kitchens [deterred women]. There was quite a male culture before but now it’s really opened up.”

Mr Young said the lack of maternity leave, sick leave, long hours and “hazing” culture in cafes previously prevented women succeeding.

“There is almost a hazing in the kitchen industry, you’re paid very minimal wages as an apprentice and forced to do the worst jobs and the longest hours,” he said. “The coffee industry has matured a lot.”

Mr Young said women even had “better tastebuds than men”.