Antonella Baccaro (photo by Carlo Furgeri Gilbert).
THEThe IRS doesn’t like women. But perhaps not even those who marry them. From a survey by the Bank of Italy, which began in 2020, it appears, for example, that “dependent spouse deductions” encourage female disengagement.
And that the support to pay asylum fees, given on the basis of income, ceases precisely when women, after compulsory leave, return to work and would need it most.
Not to mention the wage gap that those returning from maternity leave sufferwithout the possibility, at least in our country, of making up for the rest of the working life.
But if the taxman doesn’t see us well, we too in the family have some problems. A reader writes to me that «Today, many cohabiting couples divide the expenses into perfectly equal parts, with a common card to which they transfer the same amount and which they use for common expenses. But since women often earn less, it happens that the man has an advantage, because he has the possibility of still putting something aside, while the woman does not. Furthermore, wanting to work more, the woman cannot do it outside normal working hours, because he often has long hours and she is the one who has to look after the house or her children. The woman is practically unable to save any money and she must be very careful not to go to the hairdresser too often, or go shopping for herself. And moreover she cannot redeem herself from her own subordination. In short – concludes the reader -: from housewives supported in everything to poor girls who live with the rich while remaining rich!».
The conclusion is perhaps exaggerated but the starting point deserves a reflection because often, in the name of a misunderstood equality, costly mistakes are made.
We are even, of course, but the concept of equality is distortive if it is not combined with that of equity which, among other things, should be the basis of any self-respecting tax system. Equity would like spouses to contribute in proportion to their possibilities.
But if the taxman can be amended by the government, who will amend the imbalances that continue to dominate our families? Wouldn’t it be appropriate then to make clear agreements before the fateful “yes”?
Do you want to share emotions, memories, reflections with us? Write to us at [email protected]
All articles by Antonella Baccaro
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED