Canadian author Margaret Atwood has often confided that her chilling dystopia, The Handmaid's Tale, draws inspiration from historical facts. When it comes to women's financial guardianship, a precursor to their descent into misery, it is not necessary to look far for real-life examples.

When the novel was published in 1985, Canadian women had only been allowed to open a bank account without their husband's consent for 21 years. They had gained this right just one year ahead of France, which will mark the bittersweet anniversary of emancipation on July 13. Even though French women have been free to open a bank account for 60 years, they still struggle to achieve true financial independence.

This is not for lack of wanting it, as shown by a study conducted by insurance group La France Mutualiste in partnership with bank Bpifrance's Le Lab think tank published on Monday, July 7. What, in your opinion, contributes most to a woman's well-being today? In 1987, 52% of women surveyed answered "children, a family," far ahead of "financial independence" (25%). By 2025, the trend has reversed: financial independence (50%) now outpaces family (27%).

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