The intersection of money with every aspect of a woman's life

I always find the intersectionality of money with all aspects of women's lives, very intriguing. The subtle ways in which a lack of assertiveness and vulnerability, or more intense circumstances like financial abuse, impact a woman's balance sheet, follows some definitive patterns.

My curiosity nudged me to start listening to the HerMoney podcast (part of the HerMoney media platform). Hosted by personal finance journalist Jean Chatzky , the podcast thoughtfully dissects all things women and money, with a spectrum of experts from all walks of life.

I began listening to the podcast around two years back and have not missed an episode since, which is odd, since I am an Indian woman living in Goa listening to conversations on women and money, most relevant to American women.

And here's why...

Some subjects - like the inability to set boundaries, or the impact of financial abuse on emotional and financial wellness - are universal. A woman living in any part of the world can take away something from these conversations.

In this blog, I spotlight five episodes, which triggered an internal shift within me in 30 minutes of listening. I think they might appeal to you, too.

Episode 279: Becoming A Boundary Boss - You Can Say No

This episode with Terri Cole , a psychotherapist and the author of Boundary Boss — The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free, was very powerful to me. She demonstrates in an unnervingly calm voice how the simple act of gently but firmly saying no, or “Let me check my schedule and get back to you in some time on this” can be a game-changer.

Here's my own take.

Saying “no” at work, at home, and in life, frees up time for ourselves, to learn, upskill, and invest in better life choices.?The inability to stay no eats into out mental health, our time, and our finances, over time. ?

Episode 285: Facing Financial Abuse

One of the least discussed types of abuse is financial abuse. Highly rampant in societies around the world, it takes many shapes and is often hard to recognize.

Financial abuse is almost always laced with physical and emotional abuse. This episode deconstructs the toll it takes on a woman’s bank balance and other aspects of her life.

Katie Hood , CEO of?The One Love Foundation, brings along a survivor of financial abuse, who shares her intimate story, and how she was able to turn her life around with the right interventions. If you don’t believe that financial abuse is rampant in India,?read this story ?(penned by yours truly) to know more. ?

Episode 330: Generational Wisdom from Madam CJ

If you watched the Netflix production Self-Made, you’ll probably know who was Madam CJ. She was the first self-made female billionaire in the United States. CJ passed away in 1919, and this episode features her great great granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles , a journalist and an authentic upholder of CJ’s legacy. This episode opened up my eyes to something so inspiring and interesting.

Madam CJ not only built a successful business, but she empowered thousands of women along the way. She was the OG of girlboss-dom, exclusively employing women as sales agents at a time when most sales folks were men.

At its height, her business hired a network of 20,000 women nationwide. She also personally led business trainings for women, helping seed skills and a mindset in more women. ?

Episode 307: Finance For The People With Paco De Leon

This episode caught my interest because it talks about the financial needs of the self-employed creative community (which I’m now a part of), mostly ignored by the financial ecosystem. For instance, there are hardly any financial products or services that speak to this community about wealth creation, which is odd because it is an earning community.

Featuring Paco De Leon, author of “Finance For The People” , this episode highlighted the challenges faced by creative people. Paco started her own career in traditional finance. Having identified a gap, she went on to set up, “The Hell Yeah Group,” a financial firm, which nudges creative folks to engage with personal and business finances.

I have yet to see financial products in India that really talk to self-employed women in the creative community. Being a self-employed creator myself, I found this episode especially illuminating. I believe that as more professionals go the creator economy way , we need to be on the radar of the financial ecosystem.

For instance, the organised influencer marketing sector is estimated to exceed ?3,000 crore in Financial Year 2024 , and the revenue share of micro-influencers is expected to increase from 9% in FY 2023 to 14% in FY24.

Episode 369: How To Spot A Financial Scam With Tech Expert Kim Komando

This episode, in particular, caught my attention, because expert Kim Komando talks about financial love scams. You meet a seemingly cute, legitimate looking guy on a dating app, or social media. He nurtures your trust and triggers intimacy with emotionally vulnerable women who may seem smart, and together on the outside.

One day he needs to borrow some money – its an emergency, or he wants to send you a bunch of free stuff, but you need to pay the shipping. Once the cash go through, he disappears, or else he stays if he wants more.

The episode explores the emotional progression of such relationships, and how the deception is so craftily done. It delves deeper into why any woman can fall prey to deception.

I also discovered recently that financial love scams have become a cottage industry in some parts of the world where the rate of unemployment is extremely high. Scammers don't see it as a crime, but as offering a service to women who yearn attention and engagement!

There are many more factors - from prejudice, lack of self-care, and inadequate skills to frenemity, low self-esteem, poor communication and lack of agency, which impact our money-lives. I'd love to know your thoughts on the intersectionality of money with other influences/ experiences in your lives.

PS: The beautiful bottle art was a gift from my friend Yashmita Singh , and this crochet piece was handmade by my sister Janice Diniz

?

?

?

?