The societal roles in Italy were considered very traditional back in the 1950s. The men went to work while the women stayed home to take care of the children and the house. Women were assigned the position of the "soul" of the family while men were the "head" (Culture of Italy). But after World War II, much had changed, including the ideals of the societal roles. Women began to gain more independence by working in the labor force, being equal with men under the law and attending universities. While they gained these new responsibilities in Italy, they still performed many of the domestic tasks that they once did. I believe that this is very inspirational. Women began at a level that was very minimal, only sticking to what they were meant to do. I find it powering that they opened new opportunities not only for themselves but for future generations.
Men were given preferential status and treatment(Culture of Italy). They were seen to support and protect their family, while women raised the children and kept to themselves, doing what they were meant to do in order to avoid any signs of disgrace to the family. I believe that the idea of men protecting and supporting their family still continues to this day. It is an aspect that they have become accustomed to, it is something that they were born with and is naturally apart of them.
Within the Italian household, the relations between husband and wife and still very traditional in today's society. Women still do most of the housework and taking care of the children, while men contribute very little to help out with these aspects. Children are also asked to do very little housework, but when they are asked there are gender differences when it comes to expectations. Boys are expected to do the bare minimal, just like the men, they have more freedom than the daughters and have more lenient with the parents than the girls. I can relate to this in a way because I come from an Italian family where my mother asks little of my brother and me to help out, but when she does she asks me instead of my brother. This goes to show that some of the traditional customs still continue to this day within Italian families.
When it comes to education in Italy, women are more successful than men when attending high school and attend it more frequently. Back in the 1950s, seven percent of girls (14-17 years old) went to school, while twelve percent of boys went to school. As the years went on, the percentage of women attendance increased while men attendance decreased. In the 1990s, women outnumbered men at the university level (Education and Gender Roles). This is outstanding. I believe that in today's education, women still continue to outnumber men in all grade levels. In many of my college classes, there are only a handful of male students. I also tutor at a high school and in many of my classes there are more girls than boys. For example, my one class has 7 boys out of a total of 22 students. It is very interesting to see that this not only happens within the Italian culture but also within many different cultures.
Work Cited
Italy - Education and Gender Role. (2010). Retrieved from http://womenroleinsociety.blogspot.com/2010/06/italy-education-and-gender-roles.html
Culture of Italy. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html
Men were given preferential status and treatment(Culture of Italy). They were seen to support and protect their family, while women raised the children and kept to themselves, doing what they were meant to do in order to avoid any signs of disgrace to the family. I believe that the idea of men protecting and supporting their family still continues to this day. It is an aspect that they have become accustomed to, it is something that they were born with and is naturally apart of them.
Within the Italian household, the relations between husband and wife and still very traditional in today's society. Women still do most of the housework and taking care of the children, while men contribute very little to help out with these aspects. Children are also asked to do very little housework, but when they are asked there are gender differences when it comes to expectations. Boys are expected to do the bare minimal, just like the men, they have more freedom than the daughters and have more lenient with the parents than the girls. I can relate to this in a way because I come from an Italian family where my mother asks little of my brother and me to help out, but when she does she asks me instead of my brother. This goes to show that some of the traditional customs still continue to this day within Italian families.
When it comes to education in Italy, women are more successful than men when attending high school and attend it more frequently. Back in the 1950s, seven percent of girls (14-17 years old) went to school, while twelve percent of boys went to school. As the years went on, the percentage of women attendance increased while men attendance decreased. In the 1990s, women outnumbered men at the university level (Education and Gender Roles). This is outstanding. I believe that in today's education, women still continue to outnumber men in all grade levels. In many of my college classes, there are only a handful of male students. I also tutor at a high school and in many of my classes there are more girls than boys. For example, my one class has 7 boys out of a total of 22 students. It is very interesting to see that this not only happens within the Italian culture but also within many different cultures.
Work Cited
Italy - Education and Gender Role. (2010). Retrieved from http://womenroleinsociety.blogspot.com/2010/06/italy-education-and-gender-roles.html
Culture of Italy. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html