I'm a proponent of advocating for oneself, whether its medically, financially, personally ect.

Women have long been shorted pay due to gender equality. Today, this still shouldn't be an issue, there are laws and regulations in place that are supposed to keep that from happening yet many women still face this challenge. I believe it's because many women lack financial knowledge therefore lacking confidence to advocate for themselves.

Some women today still let their spouse, father or other male in their life take the reins on their financial life. This leaves them open to being taken advantage of, feeling inadequate, stupid and in more severe cases stuck unable to leave abusive situations.

Money can be a scary topic to talk about. It's taboo even in some circles especially for women. I've been lucky to have grown up around very strong independent women. My grandma divorced her abusive husband in a time divorce was still frowned upon and women were just getting the right to have a bank account without a husbands or fathers signature on the account. While the women in my family that said fuck the societal norm, achieved their independence, they still struggled financially. My mom is old school feminist. She didn't accept getting paid less than the men in her predominately male industry of driving dump trucks.

I've worked for a woman who is financially independent and took me under her wing, guided me to read some books on mindset (mindset is such a huge factor here) and in that industry have been able to meet other independent financially secure women. It took me a long time to wrap my head around money as I didn't grow up with it nor with any knowledge more affluent earners had. I didn't have family to teach me. I went to school and studied accounting. I did bookkeeping for several natural foods companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. I learned a lot. I've also read books such as Rich Dad Poor Dad, which addresses the differences in mindset between the poor/middle class and the wealthy. Honestly, that book taught me a lot.

I've been there seeking advice only to feel that financial institutions and advisors did not always provide me (and probably most women) with the same level of attention or guidance as men. Being financially literate allows us to advocate for ourselves and ensure we receive the support they need.

The bottom line is that if we want equal pay and to be given the opportunity for wealth then women should learn to manage their money for their own financial well-being, independence, and security. It is a fundamental life skill that can positively impact various aspects of your lives, from personal finances to career opportunities and overall quality of life. Financial literacy is a valuable tool for achieving equality and economic empowerment.