Читать книгу Dr Eve's Sex Book: A Guide for Young People - Marlene Wasserman - Страница 15

Money brings you pride if you have earned it legally. Money brings you trouble if you have earned it illegally. Money buys you security. Money rules.

Money makes the world go round. Let’s not beat about the bush: Money buys you “things” – clothes, cellphones, cars, whatever. Money buys you status. You walk taller, you have confidence, people notice you and you get attention. You may get the girls! Money gives you power – power to control situations, even sexual situations. It’s really hard to say no to a guy who is paying your school fees, buying you nice bling-bling and giving you rides in a car (this person may even be your father). Money brings you pride if you have earned it legally. Money brings you trouble if you have earned it illegally. Money buys you security. Money rules.

Because of the importance and position of money in our lives we need to have a large amount of respect for it. Money, like sexuality, carries an enormous responsibility.

But also remember that people who believe money is the only thing that brings them happiness are usually very unhappy even when they have the money. There are few things so ugly as seeing someone paying off his guilt with money or attempting to use money to buy your favours. Just like the secret to being a good lover lies in you having a positive attitude and confidence, so too does being good with money require a good attitude and confidence, not arrogance. Such a turnoff!

In the 1970s a women’s revolution took place around the world. Women demanded their right to equality. They joined the workforce and wanted equal pay for equal work. No longer were women content to stay at home or do menial jobs like being cleaners, servers or nannies to other people’s children. Since then there has been a substantial improvement in women’s rights. However, women are still not equal to men in the workplace. Very few women earn the same amount of money for the same work as men.

This leaves women financially disempowered, because they need men for money, or for the extras. Certainly a bad place for any girl to be in: you are so vulnerable to abuse and you always feel subservient to men. Women need to have the opportunity to have it so that they can say no to sexual situations they do not want, without fear of losing their homes, cars, gifts, or security. Women with their own money can say: no glove, no love. They will not be tempted or seduced that easily, because they know they can buy their own “things” and look after themselves. When women are better economically empowered, I reckon relationships will work much better; women and men will have more sexual satisfaction and the incidence of HIV/Aids/STIs will drop.

Dr Eve says:

All young women should have their own bank accounts which they regularly fill up with money they have earned for themselves in an honest and proud manner.