To read this content please select one of the options below:

The female labour market in Italy from a historical perspective

Valeria Maione (Valeria Maione is Professor of Statistics at the University of Genova, Genova, Italy.)

Women in Management Review

ISSN: 0964-9425

Article publication date: 1 March 2000

937

Abstract

The paper investigates the evolution of the demand and supply of female labour in Italy from 1959 to date with regard to the number of people employed in the resident population and with regard to the labour force. The article asserts that women’s access to the labour market has been slow and more difficult compared with other European countries. It shows how women have had to adapt to male behavioural patterns in order to penetrate the labour market. Education has played a fundamental role in increasing female participation and the service sector has provided the largest number of job opportunities. The extreme rigidity of the Italian labour market limits the use of part‐time work and other flexible working arrangements. In addition, gender stereotypes, still deeply rooted in Italian society, are responsible for a postponement of a “new labour force creation” and for the under‐representation of women in managerial positions and high level jobs.

Keywords

Citation

Maione, V. (2000), "The female labour market in Italy from a historical perspective", Women in Management Review, Vol. 15 No. 2, pp. 90-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/09649420010319615

Publisher

:

MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited

Related articles