Sorry but...the "Girl Math" is not adding up.
And by "Girl Math" we mean the class fantasies of young women; the dream of achieving financial freedom by being frivolous with finances (because 'I'm just a girl!')... and rely entirely on their husband or partner (with no backup plan!).
You see these fantasies peddled in romance novels, divorce memoirs, and, of course, tradwife content. According to
Chelsea Fagan, author and CEO of
The Financial Diet, these are all part of our culture's obsession with class fantasies. While we may believe much of our social and romantic desires are solely rooted in love, Chelsea wants to encourage women especially to interrogate their financial status and future.
Brittany is joined by Chelsea to answer the question: is it really love if you don’t have the financial ability to come and go as you please?
(0:00) Unpacking the infantilization of "girl math" and women's financial fantasies
(1:58) Financial fantasy brain rot: relying on a wealthy man
(05:18) How 'Just Getting Good' got started
(08:55) How 'Just Getting Good' debunks financial myths
(12:05) How romance novels peddle regressive class fantasies
(17:28) How fictional fantasies bleed into real life
(24:55) How voluntary financial ignorance harms women
(30:32) Building relationships with financial clarity and equity
Want more on financial fantasies or relationships? Check out these IBAM episodes:
Money can make or break your relationshipThe embarrassing truth of dating menSupport Public Media.
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