Blasé Capital whose aspirations?
Well, we know that women are from Venus, and men are from Mars. This rigid and long-standing truth, which is applicable across areas, finds a resonance and momentum even in issues like aspirations. The eighth All-India Aspiration Index by BankBazaar clearly shows the gap between what men desire, and what women want. For instance, “While the overall Aspiration-Readiness Gap has narrowed, the gap for women has widened in 2025… compared to… men.” This implies that while the women want more than men, the former are not ready to achieve the aims and objectives. The empowerment works to enhance the wishes, but perhaps not the means to grab them quickly.
Despite having consistently higher aspirations, women continue to show lower financial preparedness across health, children’s education, and identity-led goals,” states the survey, which was conducted among more than 1,500 people, including 40 per cent women, and across three categories between the ages of 22 and 45. The survey divides the age cohort into three categories. The early jobbers (22-27 years) are the newest entrants into the workforce, and are more digitally-savvy, and receptive to new means and technologies to fulfill their needs. Money-mooners (28-34) have a few years of experience, with higher purchasing power. They are high-value customers for products such as cars, homes, and vacations. Wealth warriors (35-45) are less digital-savvy, but have purchasing power to buy high-end products and services.
Coming back to the gap between women and men, the overriding focuses for women, from top to bottom, are to own a house, live near immediate family, be mentally happy and healthy, and save and invest for children's education. The top priorities for men in descending order are to be mentally happy and healthy, save and invest for children’s education, able to maintain a nutritious diet, and own a house. Thus, the women focus on safety and security like a roof above the head, and proximity to family. The men desire personal and children’s needs.
If one looks at the gender-driven gaps between the age cohort defined earlier, early jobbers, as expected, show the lowest aspirations because they have just begun to earn. Yet, within them, the women “continue to be the main drivers of these ambitions.” If one considers the women in the 22-27 age group to be single and unmarried, this may imply a twist to the tale. Single women are more independent, feel more empowered and, hence, desire to achieve and get more. Wealth warriors, again as expected with the high purchasing power, show the highest aspirations.
Like in the previous surveys, there is overlap and differences between top five aspirations, mentioned previously, and top five goals by importance. The top two goals for women differed slightly from aspirations, with the former being to be mentally happy and healthy, and to live near family. The highest aspiration to own a house ranks No. 3 as goals. The top two goals for men remain the same as aspirations. However, ownership of a house ranks No. 3 as a goal. To live near a family, which was fifth in aspirations index, now ranks 4 together with the need to maintain a nutritious diet.
When one looks at the readiness gaps, the picture changes quite a bit. Mental health emerges as the biggest gap for both men and women, albeit higher for the latter. For women, this is followed by the desire to stay near a family, and have a long-lasting friendship. According to the survey, “The largest gap by far was for Gen Z women who find it difficult to stand out distinctly among friends. While the wedding mania of last year seems to be behind us, younger millennial women have a need gap of 11.8 when it comes to lavish weddings.”
On an overall basis, the survey points out key insights from the year’s results. Mental health ranks the highest, and shows the largest readiness gap. Rising work intensity, and income volatility, especially since the pandemic, makes it the most unattained aspiration. The role of AI has begun to afflict people across the age cohort in different ways. Homes are preferred to holidays, or security to experience. Aspirations for travel and early retirement have declined, and home ownership is among the top three wealth goals. Relationships are the third most important aspiration, as women put family first, including children.
“Personal growth… inched past Fame… to take the fourth spot, buoyed by entrepreneurial goals, and an itch to pursue new opportunities personally and professionally. Interestingly, women score entrepreneurship higher, but they rank it much lower compared to men. Interestingly, Wealth Warriors are least inclined to entrepreneurship, while Money-mooner men are most keen, ranking it at 5,” finds the survey. This may seem a bit wonky, when compared to the western nations. But it may seem logical too. The early jobbers are too young, and do not have the outlook that young Americans or Europeans, with access to world class colleges and labs, may have. The money-mooners have the work experience to figure out potential opportunities.
As the survey focuses on AI, it states that while income enhancement emerges as a “leading benefit,” followed by improved money management, “concerns around job displacement and rising dependence on AI-driven decisions” are more pronounced.
