As a working
mother who has worked for the last 35 years and someone who is very
conscientious that there was never any pay parity in the positions I worked in,
I have an idea about what can be done right now to erase the bitterness and
resentment in the hearts of all working women of my generation. I would like to
introduce an idea I am calling The Maid Marian Tax (rebate)*. This is how it
works.
For all Millennials
and post Millennials who are currently employed and paying income tax, there should
be a box in the income tax form that asks “How many years did your mother work?”. Depending upon the number written down in this box, the applicant would receive a sizable tax
rebate according to the years their mother worked without fair pay.
Not how much
your mother earned. Not what level of education she received. Not the number of
employees under her management. No, none of that. Just how many years did she
work.
If I knew
that my son and daughter would receive financial benefits for the rest of their
working careers because of all the years I worked and toiled for less pay than
my male counterparts, that would still the beast in my belly roaring, knowing I
will never see the money that is morally owed to me. I would be happy to know that
all children of working moms would know their mother’s contribution continues
to influence their quality of life for a long long time ahead.
* The reason
I call my idea the Maid Marion Tax comes from the RobinHood Tax campaign (sometimes
referred to as the FTT (financial transfer tax)) that started 8 years ago.
Please go to their website and sign the petition.
