interviews: Nina Vaclavikova
Eight decades after Italian women first went to the polls, the question of equality between men and women continues to spark debate across the country.
On March 10, Italy marked the 80th anniversary of women’s first participation in national elections, a milestone that followed the end of World War II and the fall of fascism. While the anniversary offered an opportunity to reflect on progress, it also prompted renewed discussion about how much further the country still has to go.
To explore the issue, InTrieste spoke with Maria Dolores Ferrara, professor of labor law at the University of Trieste, and asked residents in the streets of Trieste whether they believe gender equality has truly been achieved.
Professor Ferrara said that while Italy has made significant strides since women gained the right to vote in 1946, disparities remain in several areas, particularly in the labor market.
“Over the past decades, legislation has made important progress in promoting equality,” Ferrara said. “But when we look at employment rates, career advancement and wages, women still face structural challenges.”
Italy’s female employment rate remains among the lowest in the European Union, and women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors.
Ferrara noted that legal frameworks alone cannot fully resolve the problem.
“Laws are essential, but they must be accompanied by cultural change,” she said. “Issues such as the unequal distribution of care responsibilities within families continue to influence women’s participation in the workforce.”
On the streets of Trieste, opinions among passersby reflected a similar mix of recognition and frustration.
Some residents said they believed Italy had made meaningful progress over the past decades. Younger generations, they noted, often grow up with a stronger awareness of gender equality than their parents or grandparents.
Others argued that the country still has a long way to go.
“There’s been improvement, of course,” said one passerby near Piazza Unità. “But when you look at salaries or opportunities for women in certain professions, you can see that equality hasn’t fully arrived yet.”
Eighty years after Italian women first entered polling stations, the conversation about equality—like democracy itself—continues to evolve.
