Women Could Decide Italy’s Election, but They Feel Invisible
- 6 years ago
Women Could Decide Italy’s Election, but They Feel Invisible
She was told at one interview that such an arrangement might be possible — "on another planet."
But Ms. Roncetti lives on planet Italy, where working women receive little support from the government or from many public or private employers.
By GAIA PIANIGIANIMARCH 3, 2018
ROME — Like many working mothers in Italy, Francesca Roncetti constructed her life around a frantic, daily juggle
that became more frenzied after her second child was born.
They also receive relatively little attention: National elections are Sunday, but the issues
that Italian women struggle with every day — like employment support, child care and equal pay — rarely enter the national political discussion.
Enrica Maria Martino, who conducted a study for the social security institute, cited "the rigidity of working hours, the scarcity of part-time opportunities and the inadequacy of child care provisions, together with a strong role division between men and women
that still attributes women all family responsibilities" as obstacles to keeping mothers in the work force.
Those who keep working often see earnings drop more than 35 percent, according to INPS, Italy’s social security institute, mostly
because mothers have to reduce working hours since child care and other support is so limited.
"Working women would need investments in day care or paternal leave, but
that would imply taking resources away from another group." She added: "Some politicians would want to make reforms — but without increasing spending, which is impossible." During the campaign, right-wing parties have praised mothers, but otherwise barely mentioned women.
Linda Laura Sabbadini said that Public kindergartens are few and badly distributed all over the country — they are very few in southern Italy,
She was told at one interview that such an arrangement might be possible — "on another planet."
But Ms. Roncetti lives on planet Italy, where working women receive little support from the government or from many public or private employers.
By GAIA PIANIGIANIMARCH 3, 2018
ROME — Like many working mothers in Italy, Francesca Roncetti constructed her life around a frantic, daily juggle
that became more frenzied after her second child was born.
They also receive relatively little attention: National elections are Sunday, but the issues
that Italian women struggle with every day — like employment support, child care and equal pay — rarely enter the national political discussion.
Enrica Maria Martino, who conducted a study for the social security institute, cited "the rigidity of working hours, the scarcity of part-time opportunities and the inadequacy of child care provisions, together with a strong role division between men and women
that still attributes women all family responsibilities" as obstacles to keeping mothers in the work force.
Those who keep working often see earnings drop more than 35 percent, according to INPS, Italy’s social security institute, mostly
because mothers have to reduce working hours since child care and other support is so limited.
"Working women would need investments in day care or paternal leave, but
that would imply taking resources away from another group." She added: "Some politicians would want to make reforms — but without increasing spending, which is impossible." During the campaign, right-wing parties have praised mothers, but otherwise barely mentioned women.
Linda Laura Sabbadini said that Public kindergartens are few and badly distributed all over the country — they are very few in southern Italy,