Women’s financial independence remains one of Brazil’s key structural challenges, as well as one of the most powerful tools for social transformation. More than just income, it is about ensuring security, freedom of choice, and the real possibility of breaking historic cycles of inequality between women and men.
Recent data from “Os Sonhos Delas“, a study conducted by Lab ThinkOlga, show that while financial stability ranks among women’s top aspirations, their relationship with money is still fraught with deep-seated barriers. Today, 63% of the Brazilian population is unfamiliar with any financial products. Among women in more vulnerable situations, that figure rises to 85%, highlighting a scenario of exclusion that goes beyond access—it also involves knowledge and autonomy.
This reality has historical roots. Just over a century ago, women were not allowed to vote. Access to credit was not granted until 1974, and legal equality with men is a recent development, having been formally established only in 2002. This history helps explain why women still face wage inequality, a heavier workload, and less financial security today.
In practice, the impacts are direct. Many women remain more indebted, especially when it comes to basic expenses, and have little ability to save. About 37% have no financial reserves. At the same time, they make up the majority of household heads and have higher levels of education—a paradox that highlights the persistence of structural inequalities.
The relationship between money and autonomy is also evident in less obvious ways. A lack of financial resources limits choices, reduces social mobility, and can keep women in vulnerable situations, including those involving violence. In this context, money ceases to be merely an economic resource and becomes a central element of freedom.
From the body to money: an integrated approach
Against this backdrop, initiatives aimed at promoting women’s autonomy have been gaining momentum by integrating financial education, income generation, and the strengthening of networks. Programs supporting women’s entrepreneurship demonstrate that, when women have access to knowledge, capital, and opportunities, they expand their decision-making capacity and impact.
Here at Raízes Desenvolvimento Sustentável, this initiative grew out of our own experience: 62% of the projects we support are led by women. Our experience on the ground shows that, even with limited access to resources, these businesses bring about significant change when they receive adequate support.
One example is the project Dona do Meu Fluxo, our own initiative, which is currently undergoing a revamp. Created to address period poverty (a reality in which millions of women have stopped purchasing basic hygiene products due to a lack of resources), the project is now expanding its scope to include financial education and life planning.
The initiative brings together topics that have historically been addressed in isolation: the body, dignity, and money. In addition to providing access to menstrual health solutions, the new format includes practical tools for financial planning, reflection on personal goals, and strategies for managing income, expenses, and debt.
This shift reflects a growing consensus among impact-driven organizations: it is not enough to simply provide access to resources; we must also create the conditions that allow women to make decisions about them. Financial autonomy involves not only earning money, but also knowing how to use it with confidence and knowledge.
In this context, building this autonomy involves several dimensions: the financial dimension, linked to income generation and management; the emotional dimension, related to confidence in decision-making; and the knowledge dimension, which enables individuals to understand and navigate the available options.
The question that remains—and that guides this debate—is straightforward: how much further do we have to go before women have the same rights and opportunities as men?
The answer isn’t simple, but the path forward necessarily involves expanding access to information, strengthening support networks, and putting the topic of money at the center of the conversation. Because, in the end, talking about financial autonomy means talking about the possibility of making choices and transforming realities, whether individual or collective.
This is a summary of the online chat “Women’s Financial Autonomy: Pathways to Social Transformation,” which took place on March 18, 2026. Participants included Andrea Carvalho, a B Corporation leader and moderator of the event; Priscila Silvério, Communications Manager at Think Eva; Josy Santos, Specialist in social innovation and women’s entrepreneurship at Semente Negócios; and Mariana Madureira, Executive Director of Raízes Sustainable Development.
Watch the full video below.
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