Despite the growing number of women engaging in financial matters, there are still a number of invisible barriers preventing women from fully tapping into their investment potential. Among the most common obstacles are insufficient savings, gaps in investment knowledge, and deeply ingrained social beliefs that often associate investing with men or wealthy individuals.
The study described is based on a sample of Polish women. While 32% of Polish women are actively involved in investments, 73% of those not currently investing express a desire to start, but something is holding them back. Half of the women involved in investing rate their investment knowledge as basic.
During the presentation, we will explore why, despite the growing financial potential of Polish women, they are still not fully utilizing available investment tools. We will discuss the impact of stereotypes, lack of financial education, and uncertainty about risk on investment decisions. In particular, we will highlight how misconceptions about investment risk, often associated with significant losses, prevent women from accessing potential gains. We will also look at how insufficient financial stability and reluctance to take on risk discourage action, even though many women already have savings and a basic understanding of investments. Furthermore, we will examine how societal expectations and gender stereotypes about women's roles in investing shape attitudes and limit the courage to make investment decisions.
We will also delve into the differences in risk perception and profit expectations between women and men, which have a real impact on investment strategies. This phenomenon is especially evident when making decisions about long-term investments and choosing investment products that are safer, though less profitable. The focus will be on how these differences in risk approach shape the overall picture of the investment market in Poland and what consequences they have for women seeking stable, albeit less dynamic, financial growth.