Once, I wrote a newspaper article on the financial awareness of Bangladeshi women. Based on most responses, I concluded that due to the constraints of a patriarchal society, many women feel insecure about the uncertainty of marital breakdowns. Out of that fear, they feel that having a financial backup is crucial. That is a real concern, and there is nothing wrong with how individual women find their motivation to earn.

However, recent trends have surprised me. A few organizations in the country, especially one that recently went viral selling online courses, use clever marketing strategies. They recruit promoters from trusted platforms to sell emotional sentiment throughout their sales pitch. It works because underprivileged women, particularly in rural areas, resonate with the real scenarios described: women being mistreated over small daily mishaps or unmet expectations from partners and family members.

What concerns me is how these organizations use phrases like “research shows…” to highlight scenarios that researchers or experts originally analyzed in a very different context.

I am sharing this because I felt responsible for my own work. When I published that newspaper article based on a research paper involving hundreds of participants, my teachers, and my peers, my intention was simple: to raise awareness. I wanted women to recognize that managing their own finances is essential to learn how to spend wisely, build saving habits, and contribute to a healthier economy. I felt there was a gap in awareness that needed to be bridged first, so I did.

This brings me back to my concern. Like me, many researchers do not write papers so that promotional videos can strip away the nuances and patterns of the data just to extract a quick sales hook.

Had I anticipated that companies would leverage these precise emotional vulnerabilities to sell courses that often barely scratch the surface of systemic financial instability, I would have emphasized the counterbalancing perspectives that researchers observe through an empathetic lens.

Here is my core point: simply purchasing or joining a course will not automatically make someone financially independent. While taking a course can be a helpful first step, it requires critical thinking. You shouldn’t blindly trust promotional campaigns. Do your background research, study, and plan what actually works for your circumstances.

You earn because you are a capable individual with the power to contribute to yourself, your family, and the economy. To overcome patriarchal barriers, you must build internal strength. No course, influencer, or external program can gift you that strength. It comes from within, and you have to cultivate it for yourself. Managing your finances should stem from a desire to be informed and in control of your life.

I wish more people would share their perspectives, not to tear anyone down, but to highlight how certain marketing trends might backfire in the long run and to help people make better-informed decisions.

Thank you for taking the time to read through my thoughts.