Jo Piazza is challenging the damaging stereotype of the 'messy woman' while addressing societal expectations. Money influences every aspect of our lives, and women have historically earned, saved, and invested less than men, leading to the idea that we're mishandling finances.
However, this notion is outdated. Research shows that women often outperform men in investing, navigate recessions more effectively, and tend to budget more thoughtfully. Yet, stereotypes endure: recent trends like 'girl math' suggest women are disorganized with numbers. Female characters in shows like Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girls often struggle with their finances, even when they put in effort.
We say enough is enough. Jo Piazza shares this sentiment, which inspired her to reshape the narrative in her new novel The Sicilian Inheritance. Instead of questioning what's wrong with the protagonist, she asks, “What did the world do to her to make her a mess?”
Piazza aimed to create a character whose life implodes, not due to her choices, but because the world can be harsh and toxic—especially for women and mothers. Her main character, Sara, is a mother and chef opening her own restaurant, and the pressure ultimately overwhelms her. Piazza reflects this reality: many women need a break because life can be tough.
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Piazza drew from her own experiences while writing the book, noting that her mother's lack of financial knowledge prompted her to take a different path. “My mom didn’t know what was in our bank accounts, and bills often went unpaid. When my dad passed away, he left her with a second mortgage on our house without her knowledge,” she explains. “These stereotypes about messy women suggest the only route to security is finding a good husband, but relying on a partner isn't a viable plan. This often leaves women with nothing.”
In Mailbag, we discuss a listener’s inquiry about how her 18-year-old son can start building credit, and we hear from a woman facing pressure to make costly life changes as she prepares for her first child.
