Gender issues for Italian young people: exploring gender identity and cultures in social autobiographies

Abstract

ABSTRACT The transformations of gender cultures are among the most powerful cultural and social processes of our age: at different speeds, these changes are affecting all societies in the world. Feminist thought and struggles, LGBTQ+ movements and new masculinities are eroding the pillars of patriarchy. Changes of this magnitude, destined to overturn centuries-old systems and power relations in public and private life, have been met with widespread resistance. Even the most progressive societies have experienced backlash, and gender-based discrimination and violence are still topical phenomena. This research investigates how today's young people are living this phase of tension between opportunities for change and the persistence of traditional mentalities. Specifically, what awareness do 20-year-olds have of the gender revolution underway? What influences do the family and the school exert? What conceptions do they hold, what practices do they follow? The strength of the research lies in its empirical corpus: it includes about 300 gender-focused social autobiographies, written by young Italian university students, men and women, and analysed with a qualitative method. This study offers an important insight into contemporary gender cultures in Italy.