Motherhood and work in Italy: A socio-cultural perspective

This article introduces a Special Issue of the Journal of Romance Studies on Mothering and Work in Italy in the Twenty-first Century: Culture and Society, rdited by myself, setting the English translation of Carmen Covito’s short story ‘Tempo parziale’ ['Part time'] and two articles on mothering and work in contemporary Italy into the larger socio-cultural context. The article takes a historical approach to show the continuities and ruptures with past ideologies, ideals, and policies, with reference to maternity and parental leave legislation, increasing precarization of work, and high unemployment. An apparent return to the model of ‘intensive mothering’ poses interesting questions on the situation of Italian women vis-à-vis work and mothering.