"A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word “accomplished”; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions.” —“Pride and Prejudice.” Growing up in a patriarchal society, we can certainly relate to this quote. For years we, as women have been trying to prove ourselves in our personal and professional lives that we are better than men. It is not only a woman’s duty to take of the household, true. Likewise, it is also not only the man’s duty to take the burden of the financial pressure.
It is bizarre to know that at present, the women’s workforce participation rate in our country is at only 20.3% – 18.2% in Urban India. In a country where young women’s education is now at par with men’s, ignoring that half of the population isn’t participating equally in the economy means we will be missing out on innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity gains. Involving women in the economy is not a social cause — it is a source of efficiency gains and economic growth.
We all have come across meetings and events where people, nowadays, often speak about woman empowerment and feminism. Well, being empowered or feminist was never about looking down on our opposite gender or even trying to prove ourselves to them or society. It is always about doing our best in whatever sector or role we are with equal rights, opportunities, and dignity. It is perfectly normal to be ambitious or self-sufficient; it is also equally normal if one chooses to manage her household and help her family. We are empowered when we know our self-worth, the ability to determine our own choices, and the right to influence social change for ourselves and others.
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.”- Virginia Woolf. It argues that a woman needs financial freedom to be able to control her own space and life- to be unhindered by interruptions and sacrifices to gain intellectual freedom and therefore be able to write.
Financial empowerment is the new feminism. Women can’t be fully empowered until they are financially empowered. To be financially independent, one must understand the concept of it, it is living without debt and having an income that can easily cover expenses or having enough income to pay one’s living expenses for the rest of one’s life without having to be employed or dependent on others. Generally, women are less likely than men to discuss finances, so they start at a big disadvantage. A financially empowered person is both informed and skilled. They understand how they spend their money, make wise financial decisions, and have access to resources to help them reach their goals. We should get involved in money matters. Only by handling money, does our confidence level increase. Women who earn for themselves are also more likely to spend that money towards better healthcare, education, and living standards for their families. Girls and women spend 90 percent of their earned income on their families. It is important for both working and non-working women to be enlightened about the importance of savings and investments. It will help us to build up our self-confidence and decision-making power. To achieve these qualities, it is of utmost importance to discuss money, make investments- not only in gold or estates but also equities and take small steps to understand various financial instruments that can help grow the money. If she can learn, she can earn.
Please do share your journey of being financially empowered.