Women are increasingly speaking up—and pushing back—against the all-too-common practice of being asked to work for free. And the momentum is growing. At WEMatter, we couldn’t agree more.

There’s a vast difference between choosing to support an under-resourced community or mutual aid project pro bono and being expected to contribute to well-funded organisations without compensation, under the guise of empowerment.

As someone who works closely with migrant women and underrepresented communities, I witness this paradox time and again:
We are invited to the table.
We are asked to share our stories.
We are told our insights are valuable.
And yet, when it comes to compensation, we’re told the budget doesn’t stretch.

The Illusion of Empowerment

This pattern is especially pronounced around International Women’s Day, when organisations suddenly remember the importance of diversity. Women—particularly women of colour, migrants, and first-generation entrepreneurs—are offered a stage, not a paycheck. A seat at the table, but not a slice of the pie.

Let’s be clear:

Visibility is not currency.

Exposure doesn’t pay rent.
It doesn’t fund childcare, groceries, or the cost of navigating new systems.

And here’s the deeper irony: many of the same organisations asking for “free inspiration” are the ones that claim to champion empowerment and equity.

This is not empowerment.
It’s exploitation in feel-good packaging.

Why This Culture Persists

This culture thrives because, for too long, it hasn’t been questioned.
Many women, especially from marginalised communities, have felt the need to prove themselves. We’ve been taught to be grateful for any opportunity. We’ve said yes—because saying no might mean not being asked again.

The culture of “no budget for women speakers” is rooted in scarcity and silence.
And it persists precisely because it targets those who’ve already had to fight for visibility.

Fair Value Is Gender Equity in Action

• Asking to be paid is not being difficult—it’s claiming dignity.
• Setting boundaries is not selfish—it’s smart and strategic.
• Saying “no” to free gigs isn’t mean—it’s mission-aligned.

At WEMatter, we believe that financial empowerment is foundational to gender equity. We don’t just advocate for inclusion—we advocate for value. Especially for women on the move, who are often balancing caregiving, language barriers, legal hurdles, and financial precarity.

We are clear on this:

There is no gender equality without financial equity.

Imagine If All Women Held This Line

What if more of us refused unpaid gigs that undermine our worth?

What if we asked, “Would a man in my position be offered the same terms?”

What if empowerment spaces operated on respect, reciprocity, and responsibility, not just applause?

We’d change the conversation.

We’d accelerate equity.

And we’d model to the next generation what real empowerment looks like.

Let’s Keep Building Real Value 

This isn’t about one story.

It’s about a larger system we’re all trying to transform.

It’s about building a world where women, especially migrant women and women navigating transitions, can lead, earn, and thrive on their own terms.

So the next time someone offers you “exposure” instead of compensation, ask yourself: Is this aligned with the world I want to help build?

At WEMatter, we say yes to value. Yes to dignity.  Yes to building real worth for ourselves, our communities, and the future.