‘Double Yes’ for Whom? Gender Innovation in Italian Families

Abstract:

This paper analyses gender relations in Italy with an emphasis on work–life balance. Despite the fact that the expression ‘double yes’—meaning yes to participation in the labour market and yes to motherhood—has recently become a popular and optimistic thesis in several Italian public debates on women at work, realities are more complex. Discussions on the work–life balance enable us to better understand the full scope of labour relations by considering both the spheres of domestic and paid labour. Quantitative and qualitative data show that the issue of the work–life balance is still a critical question for many women in Italy. We explore the dilemmas young women face in their attempts to balance motherhood and paid work/careers. Drawing on national quantitative data sets and on original in-depth interviews, we contend that the ‘double yes’ solution not only does not take into account the restricted options available to many working women, but it also does not imply any cultural innovation in gender roles.