10 FINANCIAL COMMANDMENTS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD LIVE BY
This article was originally published on Bravely.
One time on the internet, a man on Twitter accused me of being sexist because my company is geared towards women. Another time, a man remarked that I was able to save at a high rate because I earned my money working street corners. Still another time, I was told that the wage gap only exists because women become mothers.
As a woman who talks about money on the internet, Iâve opened myself up to criticism from people who donât believe that women are a marginalized group of people. These people are offended that I point out discrepancies women face in pay or treatment, and sometimes, are offended that I talk about things that women specifically can do to strive for financial equality in the world.
Hereâs the thing about all of that.
We donât live in an equal world. We donât live in a world where marginalized communities have the same access, the same tools, or the same opportunities as non-oppressed communities. Do I believe men are inherently better at using money than women? No, of course not. But do I believe that men are socialized to be decision makers and are given more chances to work with money? Yes, absolutely.
And the fact that men get such opportunities, and are treated like they can handle them, leads to a world where men are in charge of money. Women led companies received 5% of venture capital funding in 2016. In an even bleaker statistic, women are only 2% of the CEOâs in the S&P 500âs financial services firms. Women arenât given money to work with, and women arenât in powerful positions at financial companies.
Weâre up against more odds than men are. And letâs not forget that those odds get worse for women of color, disabled women, or immigrant women. And you know what that means? It means that women need a financial playbook that addresses these barriers and helps us crush them on our way to getting paid.
To quote my friend Claire, âItâs hard to be proactively badass when most of what youâre doing is reacting to barriers.â
So, with that in mind, here are the ten financial commandments that women should live by.
1- You shall always negotiate your pay
Yes, negotiating is uncomfortable. Yes, women can be penalized for seeming too aggressive. Yes, negotiation requires research and actual skills to back it up. DO IT ANYWAY.
Women live an average of 5 years longer than men. We need money to live off of. Women pay a pink tax on lots of stuff, from razors to car insurance. We need money, and we need to ask for it.
2- You shall talk about money with friends, peers and loved ones.
Transparency around money is one of the most powerful tools women have at their disposal. Talk about how much money youâre trying to save. Ask your partner how much they make. Ask your friends if theyâve negotiated at work and what tips they have. Sharing actual numbers can highlight when youâre getting screwed, and can help you bring home more.
Read more:Â https://www.herfirst100k.com/blog-posts/10-financial-commandments-every-woman-should-live-by?rq=money

















