REVIEW Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: December 26, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Libro.fm)
Publisher: HarperAudio

Tori Dunlap’s Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love was a thought provoking and entertaining listen that details why financial independence is so important for women and gives some actionable steps on how to get there. I really enjoyed listening to the author narrate the book, as it felt like more of a conversation with her rather than a lecture or a ‘how-to’ book. It's a feminist book that focuses on money rather than a financial book that has feminist influences, but that doesn’t detract from its educational value.

While many financial books offer the same tips (i.e. how to budget, how to save, etc.), I thought the most impactful of the tips that Tori shared was the money diary. Instead of just keeping track of what you’re spending to figure out where your money is going, her suggestion is to include how you’re feeling when you spend money so you can also delve into the why. 

The author also delves into the culture and policy that have created the patriarchal biases that keep women and people of color struggling compared to straight cis white men. She doesn’t provide only her perspective though; she also invites other figures of authority to share their perspective and experiences on money imbalances. I appreciate how direct she was in encouraging women and people of color to take; financial education and voting with your dollars are two of the best ways to help improve your circumstances going forward. While it’s not going to be perfect for everyone (as she says personal finance is personal), I think it’s a great choice for those looking to improve their financial literacy and gain greater insight on how the Western system of investing and finance works.