Donne tra lavoro, disoccupazione e famiglia

Within the yearly report on the city of Milan promoted by the “Fondazione Ambrosianeum”, this essay presents a synthesis of the results obtained from a research realised on the second half of 2002 among a 800 women in Lombardy registered in unemployed lists of Milano, Como and Cremona job centres. In addition, other 40 interviews have been realised distinguishing unemployed women in four categories: graduates, with three or more children, women at the head of the family and without husband, foreigners. The results show that in any case, both for women unemployed and for those that work, it constantly returns the problem of compatibility between labour engagements and family needs. In particular, it seems evident the discrimination of women who demand flexitime or, above all, short time. The essay deeps unemployed women features supported by some statistics, along with behaviours and features of feminine supply. What emerges is a problem of familiar resources allocations, with the result that in some cases to accept to work may be even more onerous than don’t work, when it requires to buy services for family on the market and to worsen their quality life. That is why a lot of women remain outside of labour market increasing the possibility of disqualification and social exclusion and in this sense the Author uses the definition of “flexibility trap” to indicate this vicious circle in which women risk falling down. The results reveal, in any case, the main preference accorded by women at their role of mother and wife. In conclusion, one says of women unemployed by crook (because of a disadvantaged position in labour market and the real difficulty in reconciling work for the market and family needs) and by hook (for the sake of their family and of the engagements that it requires).