Whether or not we should tax women, or any other social group, more or less, seems like a pretty dry debate; however, it can be made compelling by working out the implications: would this be fair? Who would really benefit? Is the tax system the best way to address the gender pay gap? Dilara Gencer & Saleha Hashemi did more than enough in the closing opposition position to win this debate, showing the possible negative consequences of giving all women – poor and rich alike – such an explicit advantage in society, as well as showing that the tax system is not the best way to address the problems in society, over and above taxing wealth and income progressively for all. Next week we’ll be debating unilateral intervention the United States of America: can any team make the positive case? We have two more weeks to prepare for our next big competition, Oxford University Schools Debate North, where we have four teams competing.

 

Mr Ahern & Mr Murphy