Two Parent Families
Almost all Italian children live with both of their parents. 92.1% of children
between the ages of 0-14 live with their mother and father in the same
household. Catholic
influence and Italian laws may be responsible for the high proportion of
children living with both parents.
Because of the high unemployment rate, a large percentage of Italian
families have young adults living at home.
In households with children under 13, 48.4% of women usually
participate in 60 hours of paid and unpaid work a week compared to 12% of men
in the same situation.
In general, women work 6 hours a week more than men. When both spouses are employed, the amount of
time men and women spend on housework is more equal. The
problem is that this equality
results from women doing less, not men doing more. Additionally, women
working
full-time spend twice as much time on unpaid work as their male
counterparts. Image Courtesy of Corey Balazowich and Flickr
Italians agree that women should work outside the home, but
married women tend to work less than single women. Most women leave their jobs
after marriage if they can afford not to have a job. Women in lower income or part time work are
more likely to become homemakers and stay at home mothers. If women have high
incomes and value their careers, they usually continue working after marriage.
Women who choose to work struggle to balance work and family.
Fewer mothers in Italy work outside the home than other
European nations, yet Italians believe that working mothers don’t neglect their
children. Women with higher levels of
education and dedication to family life also have spouses who likewise dedicate
time to home responsibilities. All employed mothers are less likely to desire
more than two children, regardless of the father’s help around the house.
References:
Baldock, John and Jan Hadlow. 2004.
"Managing the Family: Productivity, Scheduling and the Male Veto."
Social Policy & Administration 38(6):706-720.
Ponzellini, Anna M. 2006.
"Work-Life Balance and Industrial Relations in Italy." European
Societies 8(2):273-294.
Top Corner Image Courtesy of Allison Orenstien
