Gold has always been a safe haven—not just at the macro level but also on a much more personal level, especially in India. According to the World Gold Council, Indian women collectively hold about 11% of the world’s total gold reserves. The tradition of passing down jewelry as family heirlooms has been around for centuries, and for most women, this makes up nearly 100% of their personal wealth. I’d call this a form of “insurance”—one that’s incredibly important in a society where patriarchy and low literacy rates often limit financial independence. Gold gives women a way out when they need it most.
The stats don’t paint a great picture. As per the National Center for Financial Education (NCFE), financial literacy among women is less than 20%, and only about a quarter of them have bank accounts. This keeps them locked out of other investment options like stocks or fixed income. But here’s the thing -- financial independence isn’t just about investing in the stock market. If you feel like all your eggs are in one basket, there are ways to make your gold work for you. Think of it as a tool, not just a treasure. You could use it to get seed money for a new venture or as collateral for a loan. Banks and NBFCs offer gold loans at slightly higher interest rates, but the quick turnaround makes them one of the fastest ways to access cash.
If you want to diversify but still stay invested in gold, there are options like Gold ETFs, Sovereign Gold Bonds, or digital gold. These let you hold gold in a more flexible, convenient way while keeping its value intact.
While financial awareness and access to better investment tools are improving, the habit of buying physical gold isn’t going anywhere. For women, it remains one of the best ways to secure their future and, more importantly, to buy themselves the independence they have every right to.
At the end of the day, financial dependence is what keeps many women stuck in bad situations. If you feel like access to traditional investments is out of reach, gold—or even silver—could be your stepping stone to building wealth on your own terms.
Written by Shambhavi Gupta
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