Italy

Legal and Economic Challenges for Women

Legally, women have the same rights as men, but discrimination against women continues as a result of the patriarchal culture and the influence of the Vatican. As might be expected in this Roman Catholic country, reproductive rights are limited. Abortions are banned in state hospitals, and doctors can refuse to perform abortions by declaring themselves “conscientious objectors. Despite all efforts to protect the rights of women, there have been incidences of honor killings, female genital mutilation, and forced or arranged marriages in immigrant areas. Other problems that affect large groups of Italian females include violence against women, sexual harassment, and human trafficking. Due to the relative prosperity of the heavily industrialized northern region of the country, Italy has a per capita income of $30,300, making it the 44th richest nation in the world. However, many Italians insist that the adoption of the euro monetary system has impoverished many Italian women in response to skyrocketing living costs and the erosion of Italy's once-strong welfare state. As a result, women's access to education and health services has been seriously curtailed.

Among working women and men, there is a wage gap of approximately 7 percent, and women are underrepresented in upper levels of business and most professions. The Italian government has charged the Ministry for Equal Opportunity, the Equal Opportunity Commission of the Prime Minister's office, and the Ministry of Labor and Welfare with protecting the rights of Italian women.

In response to a negative population growth rate (minus 0.075 percent), there is grave concern over the future of the Italian family. On the average, Italian women produce only 1.32 children each, and there is an increase in the number of single persons, childless families, and single-parent households. Divorces and separations are on the rise, further affecting family growth patterns. The government actively encourages women to have more children, and public appeals have been made to encourage males to become more involved in domestic chores. The government also promotes greater flexibility in employment for women, improved access to day care and public transportation.

With a female infant mortality rate of 4.82 deaths per 1,000 live births as compared to a male rate of 5.96 deaths per 1,000 live births, a female life expectancy of 83.46 years as compared to 77.39 years for men, and a female median age of 45.3 years as compared to 42.3 years for males, females are healthier than males at all stages of their lives. While males (98.8 percent) have a slightly higher literacy rate than females (98 percent), Italian women (17 years) tend to be better educated than Italian men (16 years).

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