Priscilla Wakefield: Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy

This Women in History Mini-Series with Dr. Victoria Bateman explores the life and contributions of Priscilla Wakefield, a revolutionary figure in financial literacy and women's empowerment during the Industrial Revolution. Wakefield's work in establishing savings banks and community insurance schemes for women highlights her belief in the practical application of mathematics for everyday life. The discussion also addresses the challenges women faced in finance during her time and her lasting impact on feminist economics. Takeaways Priscilla Wakefield taught ordinary people how to use numbers. She established England's first savings bank for women and children. Wakefield's work was pivotal during the British Industrial Revolution. She recognized the need for financial education among women. Her community insurance scheme empowered women financially. Wakefield's approach to mathematics was practical and accessible. She published influential works on women's rights and economics. Her philosophy emphasized the importance of financial literacy. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Priscilla Wakefield 01:19 Priscilla Wakefield: A Revolutionary Mathematician 04:28 The Financial Landscape of Georgian Britain 06:34 Groundbreaking Contributions to Banking and Finance 07:41 Fun Facts and Legacy of Priscilla Wakefield Follow Breaking Math on Substack ( ) Twitter ( ) Instagram ( ) Bluesky ( ) Website ( ) YouTube ( ) Follow Victoria on Website ( ) Instagram ( ) Twitter ( ) Bluesky ( ) Follow Autumn on Twitter ( ) Bluesky ( ) Instagram ( ) Substack ( )

You can listen to Priscilla Wakefield: Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Priscilla Wakefield: Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy is an episode from Breaking Math Podcast by Autumn Phaneuf & Noah Giansiracusa.

This episode is 9:44 long.

This episode was published on Mar 6, 2026.

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