Gender wage gap in Italy

Throughout various historical periods, working women were often subjected to unfair stereotypes, perceived as immoral or lacking in femininity. They were unjustly accused of neglecting their roles as mothers. Many times, employers, colleagues, and society at large failed to take women who aspired to professional roles seriously. In the early to mid-20th century, even in Europe, the prevailing notion was that women's primary duty was to fulfill domestic and family responsibilities, prioritizing their roles as wives and mothers. Only later were they encouraged to explore professional pursuits. The Second World War marked a turning point, as it witnessed an unprecedented influx of women into the workforce. This transformative period permanently altered societal perceptions of women's roles in the workplace. After 1945, a growing number of women began to participate in the labor force. However, their career aspirations were heavily influenced by factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, race, education, and parental expectations. Historically, women had limited career options due to pervasive sexism, discrimination, and restricted access to education. Frequently, parents fostered the professional aspirations of their sons while stifling those of their daughters. The prevailing belief was that women's entry into the workforce would compromise their inherent femininity, characterized by gentleness and submission. In the post-World War II era, the "Becker equilibrium" emerged as a prevailing model, emphasizing a nuclear family structure where men assumed the role of primary breadwinners, while women were responsible for managing household and childcare duties. Marrying and having children at a young age, maintaining stable relationships, and experiencing low divorce rates or celibacy were the norms. These values were deeply ingrained in European societies at the time, reflecting the prevalent mindset. In the early 1950s, despite a significant increase in the number of working women, they predominantly occupied low-level positions, faced unequal pay, and were confined to conventional career paths such as service industry jobs, nursing, teaching, and secretarial roles—reflecting societal stereotypes. Women were rarely considered for scientific or engineering positions due to the prevailing perception that these fields were reserved for men, resulting in female workers earning approximately 20% less than their male counterparts. This apparent equilibrium was, in reality, a facade, with the balance increasingly tipping in favor of men who held influential positions and brought home higher salaries. In contrast, women often settled for underpaid jobs and endured persistent gender discrimination to secure a foothold in the workforce. In the latter part of the 20th century, a significant shift occurred, ushering in a new balance characterized by contradictory and antithetical principles. This equilibrium saw the rise of women who were determined to harness their human potential, seeking economic independence through gainful employment, and thereby improving their family lives. Importantly, this shift did not entail relinquishing motherhood, as the preference for having two children, deeply rooted in the societal fabric for most of the 20th century, remained unchanged for women and their families.