From machismo to co‐parenting: Changing Italy's mindset

Published date01 September 2019
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1111/ilr.12087
Date01 September 2019
International Labour Review, Vol. 158 (2019), No. 3
Copyright © The author 2019
Journal compilation © International Labour Organization 2019
From machismo to co-parenting:
Changing Italy’s mindset
Michel MARTONE*
Abstract. This article analyses the complex legislative and judicial processes that
would be required to establish the right to co-parenting in the Italian labour regu-
lation system. Identifying a trend in the Italian legal system that has so far limited
family protection to the support of women and maternity, the author then elabo-
rates on the legislative evolution that has led to the acknowledgment of fathers as
key partners in their children’s upbringing. Lastly, an analysis of case law shows
how this has been used to give a modern interpretation of legislated principles,
providing a crucial contribution to overcoming the ongoing resistance to these
processes from a male-oriented culture.
I
f machismo is understood as “that psychological and cultural attitude based
on the alleged superiority of men over women and the social behaviour
resulting therefrom” (Devoto and Oli, 2013),1 Italy – there is no denying it –
is still very much a male-oriented country, where equality between men and
women has been struggling to get off the ground since the beginning of the
twentieth century.2
It is no coincidence that universal suffrage is a relatively recent achieve-
ment. Italy extended the right to vote to women only in 1946, having until then
traditionally regarded them as having no connection whatsoever to the coun-
try’s political, economic and social affairs. It is in the workplace, however, that
the gender gap has been expressed most clearly, in keeping with the deeply
rooted view that men are responsible for being the sole breadwinner of the
* Professor of Labour Law and Industrial Relations, Sapienza University of Rome, email:
michel.martone@uniroma1.it.
Responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles rests solely with their authors,
and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the ILO.
1 All translations from Italian are the author’s.
2 For an investigation into the difcult process of advancing gender equality in Europe
up to the 1950s, see Allen (2014).

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT