Women and work: only 3% of women hold top positions in companies. And too many mothers still have to choose between career and children.

Juggling work and family, they're often forced to take part-time contracts, or even quit their jobs, to reconcile two worlds that, unfortunately, are still far apart. Female employment continues to be burdened by obstacles, much to the detriment of women's aspirations to build a career, but also to dedicate quality time to their children .

The focus

PoliS Lombardia's focus on female employment explains that in 2024, the female unemployment rate was 4.3% , below the Italian and European average. Employment is primarily in the service sector. Very few women are in top positions: 9% are executives, 3% are managers.

Balancing work and family life remains a major challenge: in 2022, over 70% of working mothers resigned within the first three years of their child's life, while for many others, part-time work remains the solution (almost 83% in 2024), resulting in reduced pay and fewer career opportunities.

The stories

The stories, collected thanks to CISL and CGIL Brescia, confirm this. “I worked in an agri-food company,” says Marika, 40, “as a human resources clerk. I was supposed to work 8 hours, but it was always 12. When I got pregnant with my second child, having no one to support me, I had to make the decision to stay home.” Knowing the work schedule , she didn't feel comfortable with the part-time contract the company offered. “Anyway, I wouldn't have anyone to look after my daughter after school or when she gets sick. Go back to work? I hope so, when the little girl is 6.” Silvia, a 33-year-old fictitious name, works in retail . “I work 24 hours, I'd like to work more, even on weekends. There are situations where being a woman is a disadvantage, because there's the fear that we might have children.”

Denise, born in 1974, started working after middle school. "When my first daughter was born, I had to ask for part-time work. Grandmothers worked in the mornings, daycare was too expensive, and there were few of them. My daughter was practically raised by her grandmothers."

A life dedicated to work and family , with no time for herself, so much so that she became a heart patient. "But I wanted a family, and I had one. Today, I'm mostly worried about my children's future. My eldest is 23 and would like to move in with her boyfriend, but they're offering contracts that don't allow it."