GIRL MATH??????

CAUTION FOR THIS TOPIC ADDRESSES ISSUES ON MENTAL HEALTH

I had to catch my breath as I investigated this.

I have had people contact me to see if I had heard about it and of course I hadn’t so I started to do some research. I am so troubled by it, that I needed to set time aside to share a post. Please share this post into your network as it undermines everything that we have been seeking equity for over the last century. YES, it’s that detrimental to the minds of children, women and to the men in our lives who will be asked what they think about it.

I have lived a life where through my career, spanning more than 30 years, people attempt and commit suicide due to financial stress. Yes, my career has seen money create extreme wealth and severe mental health issues. So I am passionate about equipping people, especially women to better understand finance and to become self-reliant.

I have sat at Round Table discussions discussing POLICY CHANGES at GOVERNMENT LEVEL to bring about ECONOMIC SECURITY for WOMEN. I travel the world to talk about FINANCIAL AWARENESS and FINANCIAL LITERECY because we need to make changes in the way we think about money. But now, with “Humour” as the vehicle, we have a casual term coined and promoted on SOCIAL MEDIA as a to explain and justify why women can choose to get their hair done in a way that is demeaning or shows they are incapable of making financial choices that are sound. Really? Is this where we have come to?

I know people will look at this and think, “oh its just a bit of fun.”

I want to assure you that every young person who has seen these posts and heard the term has likely created a subconscious justification on why spending money is now a sound decision despite not really being able to afford something. Yes that may mean that they will buy something, wear it, and the return it and justify the entire transaction as “It didn’t cost me anything” because they got a credit back or a refund after wearing it. Or as one of the other justifications alludes to “ it’s a credit do it didn’t cost anything”.

What about ETHICS? What about MORALS?? That is just the beginning.

We have already been telling girls that “Math is a boys thing” and I hear women telling me daily “Oh Cathy I really don’t understand numbers” and the latter is OK because I am committed to SHOWING women that they just haven’t been SHOWN finance in a way that it makes sense. Once shown, I hear “OH MY GOD WHY HASEN’T ANYONE SHOWN ME THAT BEFORE. I NOW UNDERSTAND!”

Now we have an excuse with “GIRL MATH” seriously?????

Here are just some simple things to think about before you share the concept or give it anymore OXYGEN. The potential subconscious impact: -

1)?? Stereotypes are being reinforced yet again. Perpetuating traditional gender inequalities, implying that women are inherently bad with money or financial responsibility.

2)?? Confidence Crushing messaging. When we internalize or hear this type of stereotyping, it erodes women’s confidence in the financial decision- making abilities, and leads to self-doubt, or worse still validates what they may have originally thought.

3)?? Minimizes Opportunities. Discourages girls and women from considering any opportunity in a career or hobby that involves money, economics, or finance.

4)????? Expectations are reassessed. This has the potential to lead to unequal expectations in relationships and who manages the finances in partnerships. Yes this is a reality, it can discourage women from actively managing their finances or pursuing high-paying careers or setting up businesses.

5)????? Perpetuating Inequality. When we normalize or justify, even with humour, this type of thought, has the potential to exacerbate the current problem and reinforces bias and discrimination.

6)????? Self-esteem and self-worth become an internal battle. This will have an impact on women asserting themselves in financial matters and being involved more.

7)????? Reducing Financial Literacy. Yes, the very thing I stand up for becomes an accepted norm and deters girls and women from becoming self-reliant.

8)????? Cultural norms will have consequences that stem well beyond the financial decision making.

9)????? Relationships – potential impact on conflict related to money. If you listened to any of the justification in some of these posts. I cringe on the situations people place on one another in trying to normalize the logic. What will this do in real relationships? Real discussions?

?I don’t think I can possibly say anymore, other than can we all be a little more accountable to the noise that we place on social media.

?This is a note to every REPORTER, JOURNALIST, person in the MEDIA, INFLUENCER, and anyone else who has an audience. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider what you are putting out into the world and what you are asking young people, your children, girls, boys to think about.

?Promoting that girls are less than capable of understanding money, math, finance, and well let’s be honest lack common sense is a far cry from being humorous.

?Please share. Please comment. I am happy to listen to different thoughts.