Redefining Women's Financial Independence

In a recent discussion on financial independence for women, Susan Simon, a dedicated member of the Red Hook Rotary Club for over 14 years, highlighted the collaborative efforts of Beth Bengtsson and Beth Jones in promoting financial literacy. Susan, drawn to Rotary for its commitment to service, introduced Beth Bengtsson, CEO of Working for Women, and Beth Jones, a financial consultant and president of Third Eye Associates. Their mission focuses on empowering women through financial education, aligning perfectly with Rotary's service-driven goals.

Beth Bengtsson expressed the importance of financial independence, stating, "When you have financial independence, you have a choice. Without finances, you don't have a choice to be able to change some of these social issues." This sentiment underscores the critical role of financial knowledge in overcoming life's challenges, particularly for women in marginalized communities.

Beth Jones discussed the common scenario where women often abdicate financial decisions to male partners, emphasizing the need for women to engage more actively in financial matters. She explained, "We find that in couples, there's usually one person that is focused on finance and one person may be an artist or another creative person that doesn't really have any kind of aptitude around finances."

The discussion also addressed the persistent wage gap and how it disproportionately affects women, especially single mothers. Beth Bengtsson highlighted, "Most single moms, if you end up as a single mom, you're on that pathway to poverty," illustrating the stark realities faced by women who are financially unprepared.

These insights from Susan, Beth Bengtsson, and Beth Jones shed light on the ongoing challenges and the vital need for financial literacy among women, reinforcing the idea that financial knowledge is not just about managing money but also about empowering lives and changing societal norms.

Listen to the Full Interview: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/KqZBLuZPlKb