The percentage of Italian adults who continue to reside with their parents has consistently been elevated, but one mother was compelled to take extreme measures when her two sons, both in their 40s, refused to leave the familiar surroundings of the family residence.
A 75-year-old woman from Pavia, a city in the northern region, was tired of supporting her two sons, aged 40 and 42. She repeatedly urged them to live independently, especially since they both had jobs. However, according to an article in the local newspaper La Provincia Pavese, they refused to listen to her.
According to the newspaper, the mother was frustrated that her sons did not help with household expenses or chores. As a result, she brought them to court and a judge named Simona Caterbi from Pavia showed sympathy for her situation and issued an eviction order for her sons.
According to Caterbi’s decision, it was understandable for the men to reside at their parents’ home initially due to the parents’ responsibility to financially support them. However, now that they are over 40 years old, this arrangement is no longer reasonable. The deadline for the men to find alternative living arrangements is 18 December.
According to 2022 statistics, nearly 70% of individuals in Italy between the ages of 18 and 34 reside with their parents. This breakdown includes 72.6% of men and 66% of women.
In 2019, a research study revealed that among young adults residing with their parents, 36.5% were enrolled in school, 38.2% were employed, and 23.7% were actively seeking employment.
In Italy, it is common for multiple generations to live together, but there has been an increase in young adults remaining in their family’s home due to challenging economic circumstances and the extended search for a secure job.
However, a lot of individuals are labeled as bamboccioni (meaning “big babies”), a term coined by an Italian politician in 2007 to ridicule adults who continue to reside with their parents. This implies that some choose to do so for the convenience of not having to pay for housing and food.
Instances have occurred in Italy where adult children have taken their parents to court, seeking financial support even though they are no longer living at home. In a specific incident in 2020, the highest court in Italy dismissed the appeal of a 35-year-old musician who claimed that his income of €20,000 (£17,400) was insufficient for him to sustain himself and required additional funds from his parents. The court ruled against him, stating that grown children do not have an inherent entitlement to financial assistance from their parents.
Source: theguardian.com
