Uncover the hidden laws that keep women poor
We don’t just live in a world of paycheck disparities—society’s laws and media have conspired to keep women from real economic power. In the early 1800s, married women were literally property, unable to hold bank accounts or control assets. Even after legal barriers fell, cultural messaging urged women to “clip coupons and limit lattes,” while men were nudged to invest and expand wealth. These are not innocent clichés, but the echoes of centuries of discrimination woven into our day-to-day habits.
Federal laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 finally granted women independent financial rights—but only after dragging women from one generation of dependency into another of silent struggle. Today, timid advice to “save small amounts” mirrors those old rules, maintaining the illusion that women’s financial contributions should be modest.
To break free, we must recognize these entrenched narratives and demand better for ourselves. Research from organizations like Ellevest reveals that women are stronger investors. When we dispel these myths with data, we reclaim our agency. We see that those old lies about our place in the economy are just that: lies. It’s time to rewrite the rules.
Start by listing five money mantras aimed at women and dig into their origins—research online or ask an older relative when they first heard them. Then compare each against solid facts: cite studies or historical milestones that contradict the myth. As you expose these hidden lies, you’ll feel the fog lift and face your financial world with new clarity.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll cultivate an informed awareness of cultural and legal forces that have limited women’s financial opportunities, reducing shame and self-doubt. Empowered by data and history, you’ll confidently challenge damaging advice, set bold money goals, and refuse narratives that keep you small.
Expose society’s money myths
List familiar money maxims
Write down five common sayings—like “live within your means”—you see in magazines or social media aimed at women.
Research historical context
Pick one maxim and look up when and why it emerged, noting any government or cultural events that shaped it.
Assess its impact on you
Reflect on how believing this maxim has influenced your choices, from spending habits to career goals.
Challenge it with evidence
Find at least one study, statistic, or example that contradicts the myth, and keep it as a reminder.
Reflection Questions
- Which common money advice aimed at women have you followed without question?
- How did historical laws shape today’s financial norms for women?
- What evidence disproves a limiting financial myth you believe?
- How could you rewrite that belief into a liberating principle?
- What first step will you take to reject outdated rules?
Personalization Tips
- A schoolteacher believes “women should only invest small amounts,” but she finds research showing women outperform men in returns.
- A nurse tells herself “pregnant women can’t handle hard careers,” then reads how maternity leave laws have historically stifled women’s financial growth.
- An engineer hears “you’re not good with numbers,” then learns that gender bias—not math skills—drives pay gaps.
We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power
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