There are taboos that, more than others, hinder the path to true inclusion and equality. One of these is money.
To break down this silence, we hosted a talk on Mia-Platform, as part of our diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) project, dedicated to financial awareness and education, curated by Federica Baraldi from Rame.
The meeting allowed us to explore an often overlooked connection: the one between financial education and individual freedom. It wasn’t a technical lesson on investments or markets, but a profound reflection on how managing money is actually a matter of rights, autonomy, and security.
Financial Awareness Against Inequality
Financial awareness isn’t just a matter of individual skills, but a cornerstone of social equity. Global data shows a worrying picture: 66% of the population lacks basic financial knowledge. This lack of literacy isn’t neutral and fuels profound inequalities, as demonstrated by the Italian situation:
- The weight of the gender gap: in Italy, women earn an average of 6,000 euros less than men per year.
- Glass ceiling and contracts: only 30.8% of managerial positions are held by women, and this percentage drops dramatically to 18% if only fair management contracts are taken into account.
- Cultural roots: Economic inequality has historical roots in our country, where for decades care was delegated to women and maintenance to men, making money an “unsuitable” topic for women.
Money as a Tool of Choice and Power
Federica Baraldi emphasized that the only way to break this vicious circle is through financial analysis and control:
“If we don’t actively manage money, money ends up managing us.”
Taking back control of your finances means, first of all, gaining freedom of choice.
Knowing your numbers lets you negotiate fair salaries, plan for the future independently, and move away from unfavorable personal or work situations.
According to Rame, awareness is the main weapon to overcome the “poverty of spirit” and inadequacy that many women feel towards financial matters.
Method and Strategies: From Theory to Practice
During the talk, practical tools were shared to transform the relationship with the wallet:
- The 50-30-20 rule: a starting point to split income between needs (50%), desires (30%), and savings/investments (20%).
- Tracking to know yourself: Tracking expenses shouldn’t be a punishment, but a way to uncover unconscious habits and optimize resources for what truly makes us happy.
- Saving as a priority: The habit of saving what’s “left over” at the end of the month often backfires. The winning strategy is to set aside a predetermined amount at the beginning of the month, as soon as you receive your salary.
- The emergency fund: To ensure long-term stability, it’s essential to build liquid funds equal to 3-6 months’ net salary, dedicated exclusively to real unexpected events and not to foreseeable expenses.
Conclusions and Insights
Financial awareness is a fundamental part of our DE&I commitment at Mia-Platform, because there cannot be true inclusion without financial autonomy.
If you’d like to learn more about the other topics covered in our program, we invite you to read the other posts about the project on the blog, where we address topics such as neurodivergence, disability, and body positivity.
To continue your journey of financial awareness:
- Discover the Rame Project: Visit rameplatform.com to explore their journey and mission to break the money taboo.
- Recommended reading and listening:
