Abecedary for Women’s Financial Education
Digitally printed domestic linen, embroidery thread
Imagine learning to read as a young girl with this ABC. Each new letter comes with a basic financial concept. Imagine if every household honoured the value of these concepts and this language for girls. A is not for Apple, but for Agency — the right to make decisions for yourself and in your own interests.
In the patriarchy, it’s convenient for men in power to have women believe that they’re not competent financial actors. The facts about women’s financial performance are downplayed or ignored. Facts like:
Women drive 80% of all consumer purchases
Companies with the highest representation of women on their top management teams achieve over 30% higher financial performance than companies with the lowest women’s representation
Between 2002-2014, the 80 women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies produced equity returns 226% better than the S&P 500 Index
To make good decisions, women need to believe they have a right to do so. They also need access to accurate financial information and facts. Indeed, there is an economic penalty for everyone if women aren’t equipped to rise to their economic potential. And if we want to avoid the penalty, basic financial education that encourages girls to exercise their financial agency is a simple place to start.
“Wonderful visual portrayal of women’s plight. Very, very powerful.”
Design
An abecedary is a familiar format for childhood posters and books. For this design task, a simple font hierarchy and colour palette balances the seriousness of the subject matter. It is bold and straightforward (unlike most products designed for women and girls). In this abecedary, each letter represents a concept that is fundamental to women’s financial empowerment. There is a symbolic challenge in the group of letters and concepts that form the highlighted orange text.
RISE! in this context, is a call to agency and to power, for all women to fight for everyone’s right to rise as individuals — regardless of their gender.
Materials
The piece is digitally printed on furnishing linen with highlight letters that are hand-stitched in cotton and metallic thread.