The number of single-mother households has significantly escalated, resulting in a doubling of single-parent families over a decade, now comprising approximately 4 million households.
Single Mothers Walking a Tightrope in Italy
If Italy seems like a challenging place for mothers, especially single mothers, heading a household of one, it gets even tougher. Over the past decade, the number of single-parent families has swelled from around 2.65 million in 2011 to over 3.8 million in 2021, marking a staggering 44% increase. Meanwhile, the number of couples with children has been on a steady decline. A whopping 77.6% of single-parent families consist of single mothers and their kids.
According to the "Tightrope Walkers: Motherhood in Italy" report by Save the Children, this trend is projected to continue, with single mothers numbering close to 2.3 million by 2043. Single mothers with children are currently among the most vulnerable family types, faced with the risk of poverty. By 2024, the employment rate of single mothers aged 25-54 is expected to improve marginally, from 66.6% to 68.5%. The employment rate for mothers with minor children will inch up from 65.6% to 67.5%. Despite these marginal gains, factors like low education, young age, and residence in the South continue to hinder the employment of single mothers, underscoring the need for targeted policies.
North-South Divide
The data reveal a striking contrast between the North and South of Italy. By 2024, the employment rate of single mothers aged 25-54 will surpass 83% in the North, regardless of whether they have minor children or not. Conversely, in the South, the employment rate doesn’t exceed 45.2%. The Center shows a more contained but still positive growth. By 2024, over 75.5% of single mothers aged 45-54 with minor children will be employed, whereas the percentage drops for mothers aged 35-44 and bottoms out for single mothers aged 25-34 with minor children.
The fragility of single mothers' situation is evident from their net incomes, which stand at an average of 26,822 euros per year, significantly less than the 35,383 euros earned by fathers in similar circumstances.
Antonella Inverno, Head of Research and Data Analysis at Save the Children Italy, comments, "Since the first publication of The Tightrope Walkers, there have been no substantial changes in our country. Women continue to face penalties in the labor market and experience occupational and wage gaps. Single mothers, especially those with minor children, are the hardest hit, with significant income and housing condition gaps in comparison to fathers. Measures to address these disparities are essential to help these mothers and their children avoid sliding into poverty from which it's difficult to recover."
Politicians' Role
"Structural imbalances persist, thwarting change while new areas of inequality emerge. It's not just about women's labor market issues and ongoing wage gaps – the situation is critical for many mothers in various regions," Inverno observes.
Could politics offer a solution? "There are various structural barriers that perpetuate the status quo and simultaneously spawn new inequalities. Single mothers with minor children face the most substantial hurdles, as evidenced by the significant income and housing disparities compared to fathers. More targeted support measures -- such as educational programs, flexible working arrangements, and subsidized childcare – need to be introduced to mitigate these hurdles and prevent mothers and their children from sinking into poverty," Inverno concludes.
In the absence of dedicated policies, it's worth considering innovative approaches to assist single-parent families in Italy. While broader social policies may indirectly influence these families, more targeted measures addressing education, flexible work arrangements, affordable childcare, and regional economic development could provide the necessary boost to single parents and their children.
- Single mothers in Italy, despite the challenging circumstances, can improve their career development through targeted educational programs, essential for personal growth and future job opportunities.
- Home-and-garden skills, as well as self-development knowledge, could be advantageous for single mothers in mitigating financial stress and promoting a healthier lifestyle for their families.
- To address the income disparities between single mothers and fathers in Italy, politicians could consider implementing policies that provide subsidized childcare, flexible work arrangements, and improved access to quality education, contributing to the overall education-and-self-development and career-development of single mothers.
