Donna is (still) beautiful? Woman is above all useful, precious and profitable. In Italy in 2014, which boasts the largest female presence in Parliament and a large group of ministers (the hope is that competence and not gender has been rewarded ...), ordinary women still fight the battle for equality, and above all of independence, through work.
Our country is terribly behind: against an OECD average of 65% in Italy, the gap is 15 points (Bolzano and Tuscany are close to the cited average). And still far from the 60% female employment target for 2010 of the Lisbon Agenda. And to think that more women working outside the home would be a boon not only for household finances, for demography (in countries where more women work, the number of children per family is higher) but also for the national economy. In fact, it is estimated (OECD source) that a reduction in the female employment gap - up to its complete elimination in 2030 - could lead to a higher annual growth rate of per capita GDP of 1% for Italy and an increase in GDP by 20%.
Unfortunately, the current snapshot is in gloomy colors, with data that are even less comforting if we think of the different geographical areas and age groups.
Among the new graduates, 59% are girls but penalized by youth unemployment that exceeds 40% to which is added a female offer often relegated to disciplines and professional sectors among the least appealing on the labor market. The humanities faculties are still predominantly the prerogative of young people; instead the idea that “Science is a girls' thing” and that gender self-discrimination should not be carried out a priori must make its way.
After all, there are many extraordinary examples for female students grappling with the choice of university. And two of them currently sit in Parliament: Elena Cattaneo, luminary of stem cells, appointed senator for life at the age of only 50 in 2013; Ilaria Capua, deputy, internationally renowned virologist to whom we owe the coding of the genetic sequence of the avian flu virus, but above all a revolution at the international level in public health policies, having fought (successfully) for open access to scientific information . Perhaps few to make the needs of Science and Research felt overwhelmingly in our institutions but very determined to open a gap, indicate a path for future generations. Which, we hope, can count on more open, more flexible systems such as that of smart work (an ad hoc bill was presented by three young deputies, Mosca, Saltamartini, Tinagli) to better reconcile family and work time 'professional activity.
And for those wishing to celebrate the anniversary of March 8, finally, two suggestions on the subject of fruit and flowers.
Do you remember the golden apples awarded to managers and promising youngsters by the Bellisario Foundation? Well, at Palazzo Reale in Milan, until 9 March, the exhibition "Women at high altitude" will revive the stories of these women (over 400 apples assigned so far).
This year you can replace the traditional mimosa with oleander. Not the cut flower but a book. The latest book by Nando dalla Chiesa is dedicated to the "normal and silent" women who with their daily work, and very often behind the scenes, make Italy beautiful (in any case). Arrived at the bookstore at the right time.
