The Financial Literacy Project Begins

Beginning in October, 1995, a team of women -- financial professionals and consumers -- reviewed existing women's financial education curricula and print materials. Then, in collaboration with a group of target clients, the team designed the content of a core class of financial education and empowerment for women. Womankind's Financial Literacy Project (FLP) offered the first class in March, 1996.

After successfully presenting and evaluating ten six-week classes for 180 women, Womankind offered the first FLP Leaders Training Program in March, 1998. Ten women from seven sites in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Ontario, Canada attended the three-day session.

The Training Program presented Womankind’s successful strategies for organizing, advertising, and presenting the classes, handling registrations, orientation for speakers, fund-raising, issues tailored to the individual communities, marketing, and generating income for the non-profit women’s centers or groups.

Why the FLP?

"It is not true that women can't deal with money; a lot of us just don't want to."

Reluctance to think about or take responsibility for their own financial well-being may lead to bad financial decisions, lost opportunities, or being taken advantage of at work, at home, or during a divorce or other legal action.

Historically, women have received little societal support for, or training in, managing money. Fully 90% of women currently supported by someone else – parents, partner, or the government – will, at some point, be handling finances on their own. Those currently managing their own or their family’s finances certainly could use more education and encouragement.

"When you have your own money, you can love freely."

As thousands of women in this country know all too well, economic dependence equals vulnerability. No woman should be stuck in a bad or abusive relationship because she has no other viable option for herself and her children. Although the number of women earning their own incomes has tripled in just 30 years, we still have a lot of catching up to do.

The problems of gender-based inequity are enormous, and affect women of all backgrounds and income levels. Because so many women drop in and out of the workforce to raise families or care for aging parents, they often are not adequately protected by traditional pension plans or even by Social Security. Women working at low-paying jobs - even those working a full, 40-hour week - may not have decent childcare and adequate, affordable health care.

"Every woman – no matter what her age or current situation – needs to feel confident that she can take care of herself."

In just one generation, the American public has completely changed its thinking about smoking, driving while intoxicated, and public intoxication in general, thanks to collaborative and concerted efforts of public health and medical researchers, enlightened government officials, and dedicated, active citizens.

Our goal is to do the same for women’s economic well being. Womankind, Inc. believes that change begins with education, as education opens women's eyes as well as their options.

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