Maria Letizia Bosoni

Paternità e conciliazione famiglia-lavoro

The broad societal changes in today’s context and the variety of roles played by men and women make the family and work reconciliation a complex challenge. Given the identity transformation process, undergone by both men and women, the issue of family and work reconciliation needs to be redefine from a male perspective. Several empirical studies consider the role of fathers in relation with their professional commitment, in order to understand how fathers shape their identity as parent, partner and worker. Through the most recent and relevant contributions, this article will highlight the main topics, critical reflections and new research findings related to the work and family reconciliation.

Fatherhood, gender equality and care practices in Italy and Denmark

A growing scientific literature suggests changes in fatherhood. However, the extent to which this indicates a shift away from male breadwinner model is under debate across Europe. Thus, it is interesting to reflect on how paternal practices and gender models are evolving. This contribution will address the debate about fatherhood and gender roles by comparing two countries, Italy and Denmark, marked by relevant differences in terms of policies and practices related to fatherhood and childcare. Yet both countries are still facing the work and family balance issue. The question addressed in the chapter, by reviewing policies and secondary data analysis, will be: How are current political agendas and welfare services aimed at changing care patterns and gender equality in family life, and how are these policies and provisions transforming fatherhood and fathering practices? How are these new practices challenging and challenged by traditional gender norms and practices? Which trends can be identified?

The invisible gap between public policy and company practices in supporting fatherhood: the Italian case

ABSTRACT Work and family reconciliation is a key issue for many countries; in Italy, it is also an important and crucial challenge. Though initially considered a predominantly female issue impacting the maternal employment rate, the importance of fathers in the family domain is now widely acknowledged in policy discourses (such as leave policies). However, an emphasis on ‘fathers’ rights’ has not yet produced the expected improvements in term of men’s sharing care responsibilities and fathers’ involvement in children’s lives. This paper first describes the legislative context along with data on the use of leaves by employed parents. Then three company case studies in the North of Italy are presented and analysed, where both managers and fathers were interviewed to understand the facilitators and barriers for fathers’ leave-taking within companies.

Is The Family Really An Outdated Institution In Italy As Well As In Europe? Findings From The European Values Study

The concept of institution, one of the main issues in the social sciences, has been developed in a number of anthropological, economical, juridical, political, and sociological institutional theories. There is no overarching theory, however, to explain what institutions are for, how they are formed and why they change. This contribution takes into account, in particular, the institution of the family as a fundamental institution of society, not only because it ensures reproduction over time but because it shapes the personal and social identity through socialization of new generations, and will verify whether the family is still considered valid as an institution. In particular, the research questions to be addressed are: is the (marriage-based) family still considered a valid institution by Italians and Europeans? Is it possible to identify specific elements linked to a strong idea of the family? Which elements? Using data from the European Values Study (EVS) 2008–2009, an index was devised to measure the (high, medium, low) importance attributed to the family as a social institution, and its structural and cultural characteristics in both Italy and Europe (with a total of 28 countries considered), as well as with clusters correlated to it.

The Importance of the Family as an Institution: Findings from an Italian Survey

Institutions are the focal points of social organizations that are common to all societies; they address the basic problems of an ordered social life, to which the differentiation of the major institutional spheres or activities corresponds: family and kinship, education, economy, politics, cultural institutions, and social stratification. The concept of institution, a main issue in the social sciences, has been developed in a number of anthropological, economic, juridical, political, and sociological institutional theories (Bumpass 1990).

Between Change and Continuity: Fathers and Work-Family Balance in Italy

The chapter discusses the changing role of men and fathers and particularly fathers’ work-family concerns in the Italian context. Transformations in masculinity and transitions to parenthood are relevant issues today, principally because, as we will shortly see, the traditional division between male and female tasks and responsibilities (men active in the work domain and women in the private sphere) seems no longer sustainable.