In Italy, part-time employment has become a crucial lifeline for many women who are struggling to balance the demands of their professional lives with the responsibilities of raising children.
According to the Save the Children report titled “Le equilibriste. La maternità in Italia,” more than 40% of all mothers, regardless of age, with at least one child, are forced to take on part-time work in order to continue their careers. This statistic highlights a stark reality: part-time positions are not always a choice but rather a necessity for many women striving to maintain a job while fulfilling their roles as mothers.
The phenomenon is not unique to Italy, but the country’s social and economic structures seem to present particularly significant barriers for working mothers. While part-time work may offer some flexibility, it also often comes with limitations, including lower salaries, fewer career advancement opportunities, and limited access to benefits such as pensions.
This can create a cycle of economic instability, especially as many women are left with reduced income and fewer resources to invest in their future.
The Save the Children report underscores the struggles Italian mothers face in trying to balance work and family life. Despite Italy’s relatively high rates of female education and employment, the country continues to rank poorly in terms of gender equality in the workforce. Women are often expected to be the primary caregivers in their families, a responsibility that is still culturally ingrained in many parts of Italian society.
The lack of sufficient childcare support, limited parental leave, and the absence of more flexible work arrangements force many women into part-time employment as the only way to stay in the workforce while also meeting the needs of their children. In many cases, this means sacrificing their career progression, taking on lower-paying roles, or working jobs that do not fully utilize their skills and qualifications.
The economic consequences of this shift towards part-time work for women are far-reaching. While the immediate effect is a reduction in family income, the long-term implications are even more concerning. A significant portion of Italy’s female workforce ends up in jobs that provide limited retirement savings, leaving them financially vulnerable in their later years. Additionally, the wage gap between men and women continues to widen, as women often earn less due to their reduced working hours.
Beyond the economic factors, there are broader social implications as well. By being forced into part-time work, women are often excluded from the networks and opportunities that could lead to career advancement. This perpetuates the gender disparities in leadership positions and high-paying fields, leaving Italy’s labor market with fewer women in decision-making roles.
The question that arises from these statistics and observations is: why is part-time work the only viable option for so many Italian mothers? The answer lies in the country’s outdated social infrastructure. Italy’s policies regarding parental leave, child care, and workplace flexibility have not evolved at the same pace as other European nations. While some countries, such as the Scandinavian nations, have implemented progressive policies that encourage gender equality in the workplace, Italy still lags behind.
For instance, in many European countries, affordable childcare options and extensive parental leave are in place to support working parents. In contrast, Italy’s limited access to public childcare and the financial burden of private alternatives often leave parents with few options. Moreover, the notion of flexible working hours or remote work is not yet fully embraced in the Italian labor market, leaving mothers with limited control over their schedules.
The situation described in the “Le equilibriste” report is a powerful reminder of the challenges that working mothers in Italy face on a daily basis. While part-time work offers a temporary solution, it is clear that structural changes are needed to allow women to thrive in the workforce without sacrificing their roles as mothers.
Italy must invest in policies that promote work-life balance, such as affordable childcare, extended parental leave, and greater support for flexible work arrangements. Only then can Italian women truly be free to pursue careers on equal footing with men, without being forced to choose between work and family. Until these changes are implemented, part-time work will remain a necessary, but ultimately limiting, solution for many women in Italy.