The transition to parenthood in Italy: reasons for non-normativity

This chapter focuses on those couples participating in our interviews who, while expecting their first child, expressed non-normative plans of reconciliation between childcare and work. The main questions the chapter tries to answer are: How do non-normative couples construct new parenthood identities and (un)do gender in their everyday practices? And which social forces lead some couples toward more gender-equal sharing of paid and unpaid work? First, the four non-normative couples had in common the mothers’ commitment to their work careers. Second, both partners had non-traditional gender attitudes toward housework and care. Third, the fathers wanted to be actively involved in the care for their child or were pushed by their partners to take an active role in it. The chapter closes with a discussion of factors which appeared to hinder a more gender equal sharing of paid and unpaid work.