La penalizzazione delle madri nel mondo del lavoro in Italia e in Europa

The European Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 aims to ensure equal opportunities for men and women in all areas of life. Achieving equality in the workplace means addressing disparities in employment, pay, and caregiving. Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin has studied the factors influencing female employment, noting how current labor markets penalize mothers, making it difficult to balance motherhood and work. Her research highlights that policies designed to help women 'reconcile' work and family, such as parental leave, often hinder career progression and lead to discrimination. Based on the EIGE's gender equality index and Goldin's work, this analysis examines European and Italian employment disparities. It reveals that the most effective policies are those that tackle the root of the problem by redistributing caregiving responsibilities. This can be done by increasing men’s involvement or externalizing care outside the family. Policies should also be paired with a reorganization of work to allow for greater flexibility without penalizing businesses. True equality will only be achieved when both men and women are not forced to choose between family and professional life.