New App Highlights the Hidden Financial Cost of Being a Woman

Launched during Women's Month, Femio is a locally developed app designed to help women understand how gender-specific expenses, such as menstrual products, reproductive healthcare and personal safety costs, affect their finances over time.

According to the platform's early estimates, these expenses can amount to around R900 per month, although the actual cost varies depending on individual circumstances.

Over a woman's reproductive years, those costs could exceed R300,000, with the potential value of that money growing even further if it had been invested over time.

While the figures are based on preliminary product data, the launch has sparked broader conversations about the financial inequalities many women continue to face.

More Than Just a Gender Pay Gap

South African women continue to experience financial challenges beyond their monthly expenses.

Statistics South Africa estimates that 42.4% of households are headed by women, while international research continues to highlight gender pay disparities and slower progress towards workplace equality.

Femio founder and CEO Monalisa Zwambila said the platform was inspired by her own experiences.

"I've lived the reality of so many women, working hard and still not having enough at the end of the month. Femio comes from that experience. It's about giving women meaningful support and greater financial agency," she said.

Turning Data Into Financial Awareness

The app allows users to calculate gender-specific expenses while also connecting them to rewards, women-owned businesses and financial wellness resources.

Although the platform is new, its launch has added to growing discussions around the economic realities facing women and the need for greater financial inclusion.

As South Africa celebrates Women's Month, the conversation extends beyond equal opportunities in the workplace to recognising the hidden costs that continue to affect women's financial wellbeing.