The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies
The birth rate data in Italy continue to be discouraging. They are taking on the nature of a structural problem given the continuous decline in population, which is neither accompanied by significant structural policies to promote parenthood, nor supporting the births of fertile generations. This st...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/151 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849340096646479872 |
|---|---|
| author | Emiliana Mangone Giuseppe Masullo Francesca Cubeddu Miriam Matteo |
| author_facet | Emiliana Mangone Giuseppe Masullo Francesca Cubeddu Miriam Matteo |
| author_sort | Emiliana Mangone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The birth rate data in Italy continue to be discouraging. They are taking on the nature of a structural problem given the continuous decline in population, which is neither accompanied by significant structural policies to promote parenthood, nor supporting the births of fertile generations. This study uses a mixed methods approach and was started in 2022 with the creation of six focus groups in the southern Italian regions of Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Puglia, and Sicily. Images taken from the “Fertility Day” social communication campaign were used as a visual stimulus to initiate the discussion. In 2024, it continued with a survey based on a pilot study at a hospital involving pregnant women in southern Italy. The results show that the choice to become parents is not only interconnected with either socio-economic issues or the presence/absence of services and incentives but also relates to emerging cultural models that need to be better understood. On this basis, the dual role of institutions in promoting policies therefore becomes fundamental. On the one hand, the “guarantors” of human, civil, and social rights, which have been developed and established over the centuries, are significant. On the other hand, the “promoters” of parental support pathways are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbb5ffd5b32e486fad00be9215170dca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbb5ffd5b32e486fad00be9215170dca2025-08-20T03:43:58ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-02-0114315110.3390/socsci14030151The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare PoliciesEmiliana Mangone0Giuseppe Masullo1Francesca Cubeddu2Miriam Matteo3Department of Political and Communication Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Philosophy and Education, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, ItalyInstitute for Research on Population and Social Policies, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Political and Social Studies, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, ItalyThe birth rate data in Italy continue to be discouraging. They are taking on the nature of a structural problem given the continuous decline in population, which is neither accompanied by significant structural policies to promote parenthood, nor supporting the births of fertile generations. This study uses a mixed methods approach and was started in 2022 with the creation of six focus groups in the southern Italian regions of Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Molise, Puglia, and Sicily. Images taken from the “Fertility Day” social communication campaign were used as a visual stimulus to initiate the discussion. In 2024, it continued with a survey based on a pilot study at a hospital involving pregnant women in southern Italy. The results show that the choice to become parents is not only interconnected with either socio-economic issues or the presence/absence of services and incentives but also relates to emerging cultural models that need to be better understood. On this basis, the dual role of institutions in promoting policies therefore becomes fundamental. On the one hand, the “guarantors” of human, civil, and social rights, which have been developed and established over the centuries, are significant. On the other hand, the “promoters” of parental support pathways are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/151parenthoodItalywelfare policiesindividualizationculture |
| spellingShingle | Emiliana Mangone Giuseppe Masullo Francesca Cubeddu Miriam Matteo The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies Social Sciences parenthood Italy welfare policies individualization culture |
| title | The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies |
| title_full | The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies |
| title_fullStr | The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies |
| title_short | The Propensity for Parenthood in Italy Between Cultural Orientations, Individual Choices, and Welfare Policies |
| title_sort | propensity for parenthood in italy between cultural orientations individual choices and welfare policies |
| topic | parenthood Italy welfare policies individualization culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/3/151 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emilianamangone thepropensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT giuseppemasullo thepropensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT francescacubeddu thepropensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT miriammatteo thepropensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT emilianamangone propensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT giuseppemasullo propensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT francescacubeddu propensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies AT miriammatteo propensityforparenthoodinitalybetweenculturalorientationsindividualchoicesandwelfarepolicies |