Children’s Last Names & Female Soccer: Two Victories for Equal Opportunities

Posted on by Rosanna Cirigliano

 

Kids in Italy can now have double last name

Two crucial decisions marked a historic day on April 27 for Italian women, children, mothers and female athletes alike. The president of Tuscan commissions for equal opportunities, Francesca Basanieri, spoke out regarding the decisions, regarding familial obligations and in sports, men and women to are considered to be equal. 

Until 2022 children were only legally allowed the surname of their father at birth. A choice did not exist for mothers to grant their children their last name, even lacking the option for children to take both parents’ last names, according to Article 262 of the Civil Code, which has now been deemed discriminatory. 

This ruling made by the Constitutional Court will allow both parents to bear equal responsibility for their children, who can now have a double surname composed of both their parents’ last names. Together, partners can decide their children’s surnames, rather having an automatic legal decision made, which the court recognized as “discriminatory and harmful to the child’s identity.” 

Children should be given the surnames of both parents, the court said, in the order agreed on by the parents. If they cannot decide on the order of the surnames, the decision will be that of a judge.  The Italian Parliament needs to create and implement legislation to make ruling effective.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The other victory regards the women’s soccer presence in Italy and their awarded professionalism as of this week.  Despite Italian women’s Serie A soccer success path, including the Fiorentina Women’s squad winning the national championship in 2017, the team was not recognized by the professional circuit.  Amateur-level status prevented women soccer players from earning higher salaries, limiting them to €30,000 annually.  The new ruling grants women benefits including vacation, sick time and maternity leave.  The regulation will take effect on July 1, 2022.

 

Professional recognition allows women to formalize their position, granting them the same labor rights and payment as other career fields. (gioia guarino)