We asked women how they experience this slow but unmistakable shift in power.
Studies
Today, more women attend higher education than men, and as a former teacher, that fills me with joy. When I started teaching, almost all my students were boys; by the time I retired, I taught more girls than boys. Girls were a bigger joy to teach because women tend to be more cooperative, diligent, and appreciative of the opportunity without being argumentative.
The Bank Account
Until 1974 in Texas, a woman could only open a bank account or take out a loan if her husband, father, or brother co-signed. If that sounds outdated, remember that the same law only came into effect in progressive Switzerland in 1985! There, a woman even needed her husband’s permission to work.
I was grateful for this law last year when I got divorced. My husband wanted to merge our finances after the wedding, but I insisted on keeping my own bank account. We had a joint account where we each contributed monthly to cover bills, food, and shared expenses like our home and travel. The rest of our salaries went into our individual accounts. At divorce, it turned out my husband had racked up huge debts and his account was deeply overdrawn. I can’t imagine what would have happened if all my money had been in a single joint account…
Spending Habits
Recently, I was in a group discussion about who spends more—women or men. I argued that since managing the "household budget" (I hate that term, it feels so diminishing) usually falls to women, they handle money better. The men didn’t believe me.
I had to look it up, and a Deloitte study across 23 countries found men “splurge” just as often as women but spend 40% more when they do! Among Millennials, the gap is even bigger—60% more.
That Certain Breadwinner
We can already forget the stereotype of "dad as the breadwinner" because in my circle, wives have long been earning more than their husbands.
Jewelry
As I admire my beautiful rings, necklaces, and earrings—gifts to myself—I sometimes think about why women have historically clung to their jewelry. Men think diamonds are a woman’s best friend because they’re flashy, but it’s really because women couldn’t own land, property, or businesses in their own name. Everything belonged to their fathers, husbands, or brothers, except in rare cases when they inherited wealth as widows without brothers.
Selfishness
All my girlfriends have kids except me (by choice), so as the go-to child-free aunt, I’ve noticed this: a mother always invests money into her family, while a father tends to spend on himself.
Women invest in better food, clothes, lessons, and schools for their children or buy a safer car for the family. They might also pay for a trip or shared experience. Husbands? They often buy a sports bike, a new game console, or gadgets just for their own fun.
Wealth and Economy
I’m a successful, well-off businesswoman and move in similar circles. I’ve noticed women’s wealth positively impacts the economy. Unlike men, women tend to be more charitable, giving back more to society. They care about investing ethically and sustainably and donate more generously.
Men usually focus on quick profits, ignoring environmental harm when investing in oil, tobacco, or weapons. They donate only if it benefits them, often seeking favorable publicity. I researched this further and found this trend holds regardless of income—poorer women also give more and more often than men.
