The Caregiving Penalty: Gender and Caregiving Effects on Career Opportunities Perceived by Italian Employees

Irene Lantano, Giuseppina Dell’Aversana, Gertraud Bacher and Massimo Miglioretti ()
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Irene Lantano: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Giuseppina Dell’Aversana: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Gertraud Bacher: ASAP Italy, 20122 Milan, Italy
Massimo Miglioretti: Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Despite significant improvements in gender equality in recent years, persistent gender disparities remain prevalent in the workplace. In particular, women with caring responsibilities could encounter more barriers in obtaining career opportunities. This study examines the interplay between gender, caregiving responsibilities, and the perception of workplace disparities. We hypothesized that perceived gender-based inequalities would vary depending on the type of caregiving responsibilities, specifically childcare and eldercare. An online survey of 213 employees was conducted to explore this relationship. These preliminary findings suggest that gender biases regarding prospects for career development, leadership responsibility, and opportunities offered by workplaces could persist, and these biases are exacerbated when employees hold caregiving responsibilities, particularly those associated with the care of elderly people. This research establishes a foundational investigation into how gender and caregiving responsibility still influence employees’ conception of workplace disparities.

Keywords: stereotypes; gender equality; work psychology; work-life balance; caregiving penalty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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