Fifty years after the Sex Discrimination Act transformed women’s financial rights in the UK, new data from Revolut indicates that stubborn perceptions about women’s financial capability remain deeply rooted.
The independent survey, commissioned by the FinTech, found that 44% of Brits still believe women are less financially savvy than men, even though performance data from Revolut’s own platform tells a different story.
The research highlights the disconnect between outdated attitudes and modern financial behaviour. While the 1975 Act finally enabled women to open a bank account, secure a mortgage or access credit without a male guarantor, many respondents believe its legacy continues to shape confidence today.
According to the findings, 60% of those surveyed think the relatively short 50-year window since women gained financial independence continues to hinder their confidence when navigating personal finance.
Despite these lingering biases, the data shows that women investors can and do generate strong returns when given access and opportunity. Revolut’s 2024 figures reveal that women using its platform outperformed their male counterparts by 4% in profits over the year. The results indicate that although women are statistically less likely to invest, their outcomes demonstrate clear financial capability when they do participate.
Survey respondents appear to recognise the importance of support in closing this gap, with 58% highlighting financial education as essential to strengthening women’s confidence and participation.
In response, Revolut has announced new commitments to boost financial inclusion. Working with Female Invest, the FinTech will fund lifetime access to financial education for 500 women and donate 50 financial planners to support women in disadvantaged communities.
Revolut Wealth and Trading UK CEO Yana Shkrebenkova said, “The idea that women are less financially capable is a bias rooted in history, not in reality. The gap isn’t in ability, it’s in opportunity. Revolut’s data suggests that when women have access to the right tools and support, they invest with confidence and deliver returns that rival, and often exceed, those of their male counterparts.”
“Partnering with organisations like Female Invest allows us to challenge outdated narratives and help eliminate bias against women in finance, ensuring everyone has the education and confidence to take control of their financial futures.”
To mark the anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act, Revolut and Female Invest are also launching the ‘A Seat at the Table’ campaign. The initiative includes a London street installation featuring 50 chairs arranged around a large table, symbolising five decades of progress and the work still required to achieve full financial equality.
Female Invest co-founder Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen said, “It’s easy to think of the 1970s as ancient history. But when your mother or grandmother needed her husband’s signature to open a bank account, that’s not history, that’s the world we were born into. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back. It’s about asking why women are still catching up.”
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