GlobalWide News
The New York Times: In Italy, the #MeToo movement has not gained significant traction, which has become apparent following the breakup of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with her partner, Andrea Giambruno, amidst his lewd comments towards colleagues. The incident has sparked more debate about its impact on Meloni’s political image rather than addressing the broader issue of workplace harassment. Despite being Italy’s first female prime minister, Meloni has remained silent on the subject, disappointing feminists and critics who hoped she would use the situation to address Italy’s deep-seated patriarchy and the systemic sexism that affects women in the workforce.
The country, which exhibits one of the lowest rates of female employment in Europe, continues to struggle with cultural and institutional barriers to women’s advancement. While Meloni has acknowledged the challenges faced by women, her political stance and the cultural milieu, including the influence of the Catholic Church and traditionalist parties, have not fostered progress toward gender equality. The situation has been exacerbated by the legacy of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose media empire promoted a sexualized female image, and the lack of supportive social services that could enable more women to work. Despite some progress in the 1970s, Italy has seen a stagnation in women’s rights advancement, with workplace harassment remaining a pervasive issue.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/world/europe/italy-meloni.html
