When Women Have More: The Power of Priorities and Prosperity
There’s a truth that we rarely talk about when it comes to women and wealth—Many Women are in poverty not because we lack the ability to earn, but because of the priorities we have no choice but to place before our own financial success.
Rachel Rodgers, in her book We Should All Be Millionaires, argues that women have historically been placed in a financial chokehold due to societal expectations, systemic barriers, and internalized narratives about money. While cultural and social capital are often discussed in relation to economic mobility, there’s another factor at play: the prioritization of responsibilities that disproportionately fall on women.
The reality is that many women are in financial distress not because they lack intelligence, ambition, or skill—but because of the choices they are often forced to make when it comes to family, caregiving, and work-life balance.
Take me for example. For the last 10 years, I was a six-figure consultant, working 50-60 hours a week, securing major contracts, and building a life that, on paper, looked prosperous-luxury apartment, luxury car, luxury vacations, brand name clothes. But last year when my non-speaking Autistic daughter’s abilities came to light, it became clear that she needed someone to fight for her educational rights, navigate complex systems, and ensure she had access to the resources necessary for her development. That person had to be me. And soon, I will also be responsible for caring for my 81-year-old mother. These choices are not uncommon for women—many of us step into caregiving roles, sacrificing our earning potential in the process.
Now, between managing her therapy schedules, battling the school district to secure her right to an education, and running my business with the flexibility needed to be present for her, I earn less than half of what I made before.
This isn’t just my story. This is the story of countless women—women who step back from careers, who take on invisible labor, and who absorb the unspoken expectation that our priorities should always be placed behind the needs of others. And when women aren’t making money, entire communities suffer.
What Happens When Women Have More Money? Families and Communities Win
Rachel makes a powerful case that when women earn more, they reinvest in their families, homes, education, and communities. The data supports this—women tend to channel wealth into areas that uplift not just themselves but those around them. The potential of women entrepreneurs to spur economic growth and create impact has never been fully realized.
Imagine a world where thousands of women-owned businesses were thriving—hiring, donating, giving back, and creating products and services that support women and families.
Men and women often use money differently. Studies have shown that women reinvest their earnings into their families, education, communities, and businesses at higher rates than men. When women earn more, there is not just gender equality; there is stronger economic growth, better schools, and healthier communities.
But what happens instead? Society burdens women with unpaid labor and discourages us from prioritizing our financial independence. We are expected to manage homes, care for children, and look after aging parents without compensation or recognition—all while being told we are underachieving if we don’t also succeed in business.
The Cost of the “Second Shift”
Even when women are primary breadwinners, the expectations don’t shift. The mental, emotional, and physical labor of running a household still falls on us.
Women in full-time jobs still do the bulk of household chores in 93% of heterosexual relationships.
We are five times more likely than men to spend at least 20 extra hours per week managing domestic responsibilities.
Even when men “help,” it is women who manage, notice, and delegate what needs to be done.
We become the default caretakers—for children, for aging parents, for everyone around us—while often earning less than men in the same roles.
These responsibilities keep millions of women stuck in cycles of financial insecurity, preventing us from investing in our own futures, businesses, and financial freedom.
What’s the Solution? Taking Back Financial Control
Rodgers makes it clear that breaking free from this cycle requires women to take control of their finances in ways that have historically been denied to them:
Refusing to accept financial limitations placed upon us—we are capable of earning and managing wealth.
Building businesses that support our lives, not drain them—entrepreneurship should be a vehicle for freedom, not another source of burnout.
Creating financial leverage through smart investments, funding, and scaling strategies—wealth isn’t just about what you earn, but how you multiply it.
Shifting our mindset about money—wealth isn’t greedy; it’s a tool for impact, power, and freedom.
If more women had financial freedom, they wouldn’t have to choose between caregiving and career. The real question isn’t whether women should make more money—it’s how much are we willing to sacrifice if we don’t?
Breaking the Cycle: Women, Wealth, and Power
So, how do we reclaim prosperity? How do we ensure that our daughters—whether they are non-speaking, disabled, marginalized, or simply women in a world that still doesn’t prioritize them—have the opportunities we fight so hard for?
We stop accepting the station society has relegated us to.
We believe in our vision, creativity, and intelligence.
We stop waiting for permission and start taking action to build wealth.
Because when women have money, we change the world.
We hire other women.
We invest in better schools and safer communities.
We fund businesses and initiatives that serve families and marginalized people.
We create generational wealth—not just for our own children but for an entire network of people who need access to opportunity.
If we want our daughters to live in a world that values them, we must be the ones to build it.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Our Prosperity
For women—especially those balancing business, caregiving, and advocacy—wealth isn’t just about personal success. It’s about creating a future where influence, access, and opportunity are not privileges but guarantees.
And that starts with expanding our spheres of influence, building our businesses, and refusing to accept limitations placed on us.
If this resonates with you, let’s continue the conversation. Subscribe to my newsletter and explore how we can build prosperity, impact, and change—together.
