Money may be the same in value, but how it is handled differs greatly depending on one’s environment, access to opportunities, and exposure. This is more so for city women and rural women. The way a woman living in the city manages her finances is shaped by very different realities compared to a woman in a rural setup; from what she earns to what she knows, and even how society expects her to behave with money.
1). Access to Information
The Modern Woman: City women live in an age of digital access. They can easily learn about budgeting apps, investment options, and financial products through social media, podcasts, or online courses. With mobile banking, SACCOs, and fintech platforms, money is often managed digitally sometimes with automatic savings and goal trackers.
The Rural Woman: Information flow is slower in the village. Most rural women rely on word of mouth, group meetings, or radio programs for financial information. Mobile money (like M-Pesa) has opened a huge door yes, but beyond basic transactions, knowledge about investments, insurance, or business financing is still limited or dependent on NGOs, church groups, or cooperative movements.
2). Upbringing and Cultural Influence
The Modern Woman: Many urban women grow up in families where education and exposure play a big role. They are taught to dream big, pursue careers, and often manage their own income. Money conversations in urban households are more individualistic focusing on career growth, side hustles, and lifestyle choices.
The Rural Woman: In rural setups, the upbringing is more communal. Women often grow up seeing their mothers manage small amounts for food, farming, and household needs, not necessarily for long-term wealth creation. Cultural norms may dictate that men handle “big money” decisions such as buying land, livestock, or building projects, while women manage daily expenses. This has limited the rural woman to even believe she can handle big money by herself.
3). Environment and Economic Opportunities
The Modern Woman: She is surrounded by opportunities like formal employment, side hustles, digital entrepreneurship, and investment options. Her environment encourages ambition but also comes with pressure such as rent, bills, image, and social comparisons. The financial tools available are wide, but so are temptations to overspend or live beyond one’s means.
The Rural Woman: Her financial environment revolves around agriculture, small trading, and community-based systems like merry-go-rounds (chamas). Her income may be seasonal and unpredictable, depending on harvests or market prices. However, she often displays strong discipline and resilience through saving little by little and relying heavily on collective savings and support systems.
4). Knowledge and Financial Skills
The Modern Woman: She is more exposed to structured financial education through formal schooling, workplace training, or online content. Skills like budgeting, investing, and credit management are familiar concepts, though not always practiced consistently. She often knows what to do but struggles with consistency due to lifestyle pressures.
The Rural Woman: Her skills are more practical than theoretical. She may not use spreadsheets, but she can stretch Kes 500 to feed a family for a week. Her understanding of credit is often limited to SACCO loans or table-banking systems. Formal financial planning may be missing, but informal financial discipline is strong and community-based.
Challenges Faced
The Modern Woman:
- Pressure to maintain a lifestyle image or social status.
- Debt from digital lending apps, credit cards, or impulse online spending.
- Balancing financial independence with family or partner expectations.
The Rural Woman:
- Limited access to financial products or formal banking.
- Dependence on unpredictable income sources like farming.
- Cultural restrictions that limit ownership or decision-making over assets.
The Role of Men in Both Setups
In Urban Settings: Men and women often share financial responsibilities more equally. However, this can lead to tension especially when women earn more or desire autonomy in financial decisions. Some urban men support their partners’ financial independence, while others feel challenged by it.
In Rural Settings: Men are still widely seen as the primary providers and decision-makers. Women’s financial power is often indirect, they influence household spending but rarely control major assets. However, with the rise of women’s groups and mobile money, this is gradually changing as rural women begin to build their own economic voice.
Summary Insight
In essence, the modern woman is financially empowered but often pressured, while the rural woman is financially limited but often disciplined and grounded. Both have strengths the other can learn from:
- The modern woman’s exposure can uplift rural women through mentorship and shared knowledge.
- The rural woman’s discipline and community-based savings culture can remind the modern woman of the power of patience and accountability.
Rhina Namsia is the founder and chief executive officer of The Acemt Consulting, a training and consultation company that provides financial planning and investment advisory.
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