The evolution of the side hustle, and the women who make it happen

"IT'S just something small, you know. I enjoy doing it, and it can help us buy odds and ends, and on rainy days at home."

And with those words, countless side hustles were born.

Our grandmothers and mothers created magic with their bare hands - whether it was stitching that sari blouse to the perfect fit, or rolling round, butter-soft rotis, preparing freshly made pickles that danced in your palate and, of course, dishing out symmetrical samoosas, oozing with flavour and spices.

True to the cyclical nature of life, and with an inherent nurturing and entrepreneurial mindset, women today are also forging ahead with side hustles.

Amid the rising cost of living, a two-parent income sometimes falls short, so a side hustle becomes a necessity. It's what women juggle, along with their 9am to 5pm jobs, housework and children's homework. In other cases, the stay-at-home mum decides she wants to finally pursue her lifelong passion project, turning her side hustle into a flourishing entrepreneurial business.

And there may be other unique cases too, of freelancing but then making it your full-time job. At the heart of it all, it's about taking risks, seizing opportunities and putting in more hours than you can count. Is it worth it? Of course it is. 

Side hustles celebrate a woman's independence and ability to contribute economically to the household, marking a giant leap from patriarchal practices and perceptions. It's about building resilience, and reminding younger generations that skills, dedication and hard work will never go out of fashion. Also, it's never too late to start something, or chase dreams that were once forcibly suppressed.

We all know of these tenacious women, in our neighbourhood and within our circle of family and friends. Personally, two remarkable women with different paths in their entrepreneurship journey stand out.

Candice Stacey Yon from Phoenix, Durban, left her full-time corporate job to "try" her love for baking and spend more time with her children.

Today, that "try" is thriving. Her business, iCandy Events by CSY, is highly sought after for decadent bakes - from burfee truffles to brownies, cakes and everything in between. Staying ahead of the curve, she recently started hosting cupcake decorating classes to empower other women to whip up treats that would melt the hearts of their loved ones.

On the other side of Durban, in Bluff, there's Keshni Dhanesar.

With a strong family history of entrepreneurship, Keshni followed in the footsteps of her late father to open Durban Flying Dress. An international concept, brought to our shores, exclusively by Keshni - Durban Flying Dress allows women and their families to experience the thrill of a picturesque photoshoot in stunning locations.

Capturing special milestones - maternity, birthdays, anniversaries, and self-love journeys - it's about celebrating women authentically. She recently won the Durban Tourism Emerging Entrepreneur Award - proof that there's no limits to a side hustle. 

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. Often women will talk about "we" and while some may have a team, often, it's "me, myself and I".

In saluting the admirable efforts of the talented women with side hustles in our community, I also want to issue a call for greater support for small businesses. Where we can enlist the services of  women with a side hustle, let's make a conscious effort to do so. If we can promote them, whether by word of mouth or social media, let's do so now.

And if you are contemplating a side hustle, give yourself a chance and try. Like the women who have come before us, you may be creating your own little legacy that your children and grandchildren can carry forth with pride.

Maya Jagjivan Kalicharan is a journalist with two decades of experience in radio broadcasting. She currently works in corporate communications at a leading African company in the business process outsourcing industry. Beyond her professional role, she serves on the management committee of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban and is passionate about telling stories on indenture and beyond. She shares her love for writing, with a special focus on women's empowerment, through her personal blog, inmywords.co.za.

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