It’s Monday, which means it’s time to stretch your money mindset on Money Mondays with
Xoli Zondo and Thuli Magubane. This week, because it’s Women’s Month, we’re talking
about something called the female tax. And no, this is not an official SARS category hiding
somewhere between PAYE and VAT.

The female tax is the extra financial pressure women often carry simply because of gender;
from beauty and grooming expectations, to safety costs, caregiving responsibilities, period
products, clothing standards, career interruptions, and sometimes even paying more for
similar products marketed specifically to women.

So the big question is: Is the female tax real? How does it show up in everyday life? And
what can women actually do to reduce it, challenge it, or plan around it?
Because money is not always just about what you earn. Sometimes it is also about the
invisible costs society expects you to carry.