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They say money can’t buy happiness — but neither can stress, hunger, or unpaid bills. And while money may not fill the emotional void, the reality is that it does buy time, security, and the freedom to pursue joy. If you've ever been broke, hearing “money can’t buy happiness” feels like a slap in the face. Our emotions and our money are deeply connected. When one suffers, the other does too.
For women especially, this isn’t just about money — it’s about power. Economic independence can mean walking away from an abusive partner. It can mean upgrading from a one-room flat, launching a business, or saying no to a toxic job because you can. Financial freedom isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline.
They say money can’t buy happiness — but neither can stress, hunger, or unpaid bills. And while money may not fill the emotional void, the reality is that it does buy time, security, and the freedom to pursue joy. If you've ever been broke, hearing “money can’t buy happiness” feels like a slap in the face. Our emotions and our money are deeply connected. When one suffers, the other does too.
For women especially, this isn’t just about money — it’s about power. Economic independence can mean walking away from an abusive partner. It can mean upgrading from a one-room flat, launching a business, or saying no to a toxic job because you can. Financial freedom isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline.
But women are still playing a rigged game.
But women are still playing a rigged game.
2025
We don’t need feminism in 2025 because the laws are different for men and women. We need feminism because the rules still are.
The Gender Pay Gap in South Africa
Women earn 23%–35% less than men in the same positions — that’s 32.5% less per month, and 20.1% less per hour.
Female labour participation stands at 53%, compared to 64.9% for men — a 10.6 percentage point gap.
Entry-level employment is harder to access: 2.5 million women employed vs 3.3 million men, and female youth unemployment is at a staggering 57%, compared to 49% for young men.
Women make up only 3% of CEOs in JSE-listed companies, and just 39% of top management roles in private firms.
In public service, 43.8% of senior roles are held by women (vs 56.2% by men).
On boards, South African women hold just 17.4% of seats.
Only 58.5% of companies fully pay maternity leave, meaning women take a hit on their pensions for simply giving birth.
This isn’t just a wage gap — it’s a wealth gap. A leadership gap. A freedom gap.
We Don’t Just Earn Less — We Spend More
We blame women’s “spending habits,” but the real villain? The patriarchy. It’s easier to mock a woman for buying a latte than to address the pink tax, where women pay more for everything from razors to deodorant — and pay for tampons, while Viagra gets covered by medical aid.
To be taken seriously at work, women are expected to look the part. That means hair, nails, makeup, and clothing that meet company standards — standards largely shaped by white, western beauty ideals. Women of colour often spend hundreds of rands monthly to make their hair "acceptable" by corporate norms.
Studies show that women spend over R1,300 per month extra just to be seen as baseline professional. While men roll out of bed, get dressed, and go to work, women are expected to invest hours and money just to be considered "presentable."
The Financial Education Divide
There’s also a glaring difference in the way we are taught to think about money:
Men get stock tips, learn how to invest, how to grow wealth.
Women get tips on stretching a family meal or cutting coupons.
Men are shown how to build empires. Women are told how to survive.
It’s no wonder we feel stuck. But the question is: What do you actually want in life? Not a vague “I want to be comfortable.” What’s your vision? Where are you going?
Why We Need Financial Feminism
All of this should show us: when you feel like you're working your ass off and still earning less than a man in the same role — when you feel like you're not doing enough, not good enough, not working hard enough — remember this: you are not competing on a level playing field.
This is why women are so much more resilient, hardworking, and compassionate. If you can survive financially as a woman, you’re already winning in a rigged game. But we shouldn’t stop at surviving — we need to strive for financial freedom and abundance.
As women, money is power. It’s the power to walk away. To say no. To afford safety. To change the rules. We need more women in leadership. And that starts with you growing, rising, and claiming your space — so that others can too.
Let’s stop shaming women for wanting more — and start demanding systems that give them a fair shot at getting it.
We started SheCreates Female-Led Business Networking—or SheCreates Networking, as we like to call it—because we were tired. Tired of surface-level spaces. Tired of sitting in rooms where women felt like they had to shrink, over-perform, or wear a polished mask just to be taken seriously. We wanted something real. A space where women could bring their whole selves: ambition, exhaustion, passion, confusion, confidence, burnout, spreadsheets, dreams… all of it.
We started SheCreates Female-Led Business Networking—or SheCreates Networking, as we like to call it—because we were tired. Tired of surface-level spaces. Tired of sitting in rooms where women felt like they had to shrink, over-perform, or wear a polished mask just to be taken seriously. We wanted something real. A space where women could bring their whole selves: ambition, exhaustion, passion, confusion, confidence, burnout, spreadsheets, dreams… all of it.
Our Goal
We wanted to build a space where a woman could walk in whether she was selling handmade scrunchies at a local market or running a company with 200 employees—and feel like she belonged. Where the woman juggling three kids and a side hustle could be seen and heard just as much as the woman with business cards and a boardroom. Because we believe every woman has something to teach and something to learn. And we wanted to create a support system for all of it.
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