Financial education for women is a need

18 days ago

I was prompted to write this post due to a discussion I had with a friend yesterday when she came to visit. I am always being referred to as a workaholic by her, and she does ask me why I work a lot despite having parents who support me in every way. So because I have parents who support me I shouldn't work my way to success and build a solid future for myself and my children yet unborn? No, that I won't do; working to earn a living and be prudent with my finances is building a would-be sustainable life for myself.

Image is mine

Gone are the days when parents spoon-feed their children financially; in this present generation, having parents who still look out for you financially is a miracle that not so many are lucky to receive. Why I said, a big thank you to civilization is because we are no longer in the era where female children or women end their lives in the kitchen. Women are now doing exploits in government and every other parastatal. Why, then, should any female child or woman limit herself to money given to her by her parents or husband?

Parent's duty

I knew she had no vocational skills, nor did she possess any professional skills that could earn her a living, but then I still decided to ask her what her present means of livelihood is. She looked at me and laughed, saying she had nothing to do for now because her parents and boyfriend were handling her responsibility. After school, she would secure a job that would fetch her enough money to take care of herself. This means her financial education is zero, and I asked myself, what are parents inculcating in their female children these days?

Parents should be their children's first teachers when it comes to handling finances and creating a sustainable lifestyle that will not only decorate the present but also secure the future. Parents are supposed to be their children's role models, but what's there to learn when the mother whom to learn from isn't doing anything about her life? A mother going about with the entitlement belief. Where is the financial knowledge to be passed down to the children? Some fathers don't care because they believe the male children should be the breadwinners, but the few understand that either the male or female child has a strong role to play in the house, thereby inculcating into them financial education right from a young age.

Thanks to my father, I got hold of knowledge of web3 when I was younger. He made sure I learned some basic things that helped me a whole lot in my journey in life, even though I thought then it was a male's job to surf online and look for opportunities, which can, in turn, be the opportunity of a lifetime. I once believed as a female child, all that was needed for me to know and have was housekeeping skills, but then my father changed that mentality of mine, and with the right circle and more search for knowledge, I was able to train myself to be an independent woman, and that too financially.

Wrong mentality

A female child should have a financial education and get rid of the entitlement mentality that is ruining the lives of many today. Many women so believe that only men have to work and provide just because men are said to be the leaders. There are women in our world today who have no source of income whatsoever claiming to be a full housewife. What happens when unforeseen circumstances set in and the man of the house is no more? Who will take over the finances of the house? How will the children feed and go to school? How will the woman herself survive?

Having the knowledge of investment and entrepreneurship as a woman isn't a bad idea; it will take some burden off the man's shoulders and also the woman's. Some women cannot get anything for themselves except what their husband gives to them, and that is not a good lifestyle to practice. Financial literacy, such as budgeting, saving, and financial planning, should be part of what women are actively involved in. Although some cultures disallowed their women from earning an income except by being provided for, that is so archaic in this present generation.

Ways to earn financial independence

One of the ways to earn financial independence is through multiple income streams. Not limiting oneself to a single one that can collapse at any time. Women should be taught smart investment strategies such as investing in stocks, real estate, and passive income which is being regarded as men's duty. Financial empowerment through education, investment, and advocacy should be encouraged. This will help change women's mentality and belief about being a species whose only job is to enjoy rather than work to be financially stable.