The Importance of Women Examining Their Inner Narratives for Achieving Genuine Wealth

The discourse on Women’s Economic Empowerment has traditionally favored 'Assets' over 'Agency'. The prevailing belief has been that if capital and skills are supplied, wealth will automatically result. Nonetheless, my research into what I term the 'Shame Tax' exposes a considerable psycho-social barrier that hampers even the most qualified women from translating their knowledge into tangible equity. This barrier is upheld not only by external influences but also by internalized 'collection agencies'; subconscious mechanisms meant to keep us 'safe' by limiting our potential.

To access the estimated $95 billion in economic potential that is forfeited due to female self-exclusion, we need to go beyond mere financial literacy and engage in a profound process of internal decommissioning. This year, the road to achieving true Female Fortune demands that we identify and eliminate four specific internal programs that are currently draining our economic strength.

The first program that must be addressed is the Minimiser. This internal dialogue trivializes every significant milestone as a mere coincidence rather than a rightful achievement. Whenever a woman successfully obtains a high- value contract or spearheads a significant turnaround, the Minimiser quickly dismisses it as a 'lucky break.' This mindset, often masked as humility, depletes what I define as Behavioural Collateral. In a marketplace where influence serves as the ultimate currency, downplaying one's accomplishments results in entering negotiations with a self-imposed disadvantage. The Minimiser guarantees that even when we occupy space, we are not genuinely acknowledged, having already downplayed the proof of our capabilities.

Closely tied to this inner dialogue is the Apologist, who is responsible for the phenomenon I call the 'Respect Levy.' This persona entails a constant need to soften our assertiveness to appear more agreeable. It might manifest in an email where one says, 'sorry to bother you,' despite clearly making a valid request for payment, or starts a strategic insight with the phrase, 'I could be mistaken.' This continuous softening constitutes a draining emotional labor that conveys a sense of unworthiness regarding the authority we rightfully possess. Each apology for our capabilities is a minute compensation to a system not designed to uplift us. This year, we need to acknowledge that assertiveness does not equate to a lack of elegance; it is, in fact, the language of true leadership.

Next, we encounter the Moraliser, which represents a deeply ingrained program. This mindset misrepresents financial ambition as a flaw in character, implying that wanting more is 'un-African,' 'selfish,' or 'not team-oriented.' For many Nigerian women, this program stems from the 'Inheritance of Anxiety'; the notion that a 'good woman' must be a low-cost option. The Moraliser casts audits of invoices or requests for equitable fees as acts of greed. We must understand that an undervalued woman cannot forge a legacy. Recognizing your economic value is not a sign of moral deficiency but rather a necessity for the impact you are meant to bring to your family and community.

Lastly, we have the Competence Doubter, which is a significant factor behind the statistic indicating that 26 percent of qualified women choose to opt-out of funding opportunities. This program transforms systemic barriers, such as biased questioning from lenders, into feelings of personal inadequacy. Instead of identifying a flawed system, the Doubter ponders, 'Am I financially inept?' or 'Do I truly grasp the numbers?' Such internal self-doubt serves as the final obstruction to ownership. It leads us to withdraw from negotiations even before they happen, resulting in not only lost financial opportunities but also a forfeiture of our collective strength.

As I have frequently expressed, one cannot challenge rules they were never meant to interpret, and one cannot dispute a bill they have never reviewed. The journey toward achieving a Female Fortune begins with an analysis of these internal narratives.

We must cease categorizing our financial experiences as mere literacy mistakes and instead recognize them as a domain to reclaim. This year, your advancement hinges on your readiness to stop being burdened by silence and to start embracing mental freedom. To embark on your self-assessment and identify which internal programs have been influencing your financial narrative, I urge you to engage in the Shame Tax Self-Audit. It is time to reveal the unnoticed and reclaim the currency of your own confidence.

To pinpoint your individual Shame Tax and initiate your audit, visit: https://talealimi.com/the-female-fortune/

Dr. Tale Alimi is the Founder of REAF Africa, an organization committed to bridging the economic gender divide via the application of behavioral science and institutional redesign.