Rewriting the rules: Challenging outdated notions of luck, risk and gender

[SINGAPORE] I grew up believing that opening an umbrella indoors would invite ghosts into the house and that every grain of rice left uneaten in my bowl would some day manifest as a pockmark on my future spouse’s face – two superstitions that, despite their absurdity, ensured dry floors and spotless plates. In our household, such beliefs were treated as undeniable truths, passed down without question and shaping our behaviours in subtle ways.

The same unquestioning acceptance often applies to assumptions about investing, particularly when it comes to gender. We are told that men are naturally inclined to take risks while women are more cautious, that men are rational decision-makers while women are emotional investors. But just as I eventually realised that leftover rice had no bearing on my future spouse’s complexion, it’s time we rethink these deep-rooted beliefs that reinforce outdated gender stereotypes.

Societal practices that reinforce beliefs

Women indeed hold up half the sky. It’s no secret that women are earning, inheriting, and managing more wealth than ever before. In Asia, women collectively control more wealth than in any other region except North America. Their financial influence is growing faster than anywhere else in the world.