Considering all of this, there is a chance that a UBI scheme could begin to help to level things out for women. If women were given a standardised base wage, this would offer the financial support they need to keep their heads above water. For women who may be overworking themselves in their careers and in their homes just to make ends meet, UBI might offer some respite and some much-needed time to breathe. However, it’s a far cry from a long-term solution.

“There is an argument that the universal basic income could level out the gender pay gap however it should not be used to mitigate the issue,” says Phoebe Ellis, head of operations at Thrive Money, which aims to help improve people’s financial education with a focus on women and younger people. “The gender pay gap is a separate problem in itself which needs dealing with and before we seek for options to solve it, we need to face it head-on.”

With a basic income guaranteed, women would also have the freedom to let go of the need to ‘hustle’ in their careers. Instead, they could pursue passions either as an extension of their careers or outside of work altogether. In other words, the scheme could open up space for a new generation of creatively fulfilled women.

The scheme might even begin to shift inequalities within creative industries. Traditionally, creative industries are financially risky and they are often disproportionately dominated by people who have the time and financial support to experiment. Typically, this means people from privileged backgrounds. As a 2020 report noted, women from minority ethnic groups and from working-class backgrounds are “significantly underrepresented” in these spaces.

With a UBI scheme in place, this may begin to change. “[UBI] can contribute to building a fairer society by providing a financial safety net and empowering women to pursue opportunities previously hindered by financial limitations,” explains Sarah Connelly, a finance expert at Cashfloat. “By receiving a guaranteed income, women would gain more financial freedom to make decisions that shape their lives.”

A universal basic income trial is coming: here’s what it could mean for women