Exploring Gender Gap within Southern Italy’s Third Sector: Insights, Barriers, and Strategies for Equality

This research contributes to investigating gender gaps within Third Sector organizations in Southern Italy. While existing studies on gender gaps often center on political behavior and social structures, limited attention has been given to nonprofit sectors where leadership dynamics, gender inequality, and access disparities are significant yet underexplored. This study addresses these issues by examining gendered career trajectories, representations and leadership opportunities across six southern Italian regions (Campania, Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia). The focus on these regions stems from the FQTS project, a collaborative effort between the National Third Sector Forum, CSVnet, and Sapienza University of Rome, which aims to train and empower Third Sector managers in gender-sensitive practices. The research identifies key themes (existing gender awareness, organizational resistance and the structural barriers to equal opportunities) to help contextualize the extent to which gender gaps manifest in leadership and managerial roles within the Third Sector, an area that traditionally receives less scrutiny in discussions about workplace equality (as evidenced by the lack of reliable data and reports relating to the sector). The study examines social representations within organizations, particularly why women constitute the majority of Third Sector employees (almost 70%) but remain underrepresented in top positions (less than 33% of managers are women). It also assesses the presence (or absence) of policies aimed at fostering gender equality and promoting more inclusive organizational practices. In line with the workshop’s emphasis on age, period, and cohort effects, this project sheds light on how generational dynamics and time-related factors influence gender roles in the Third Sector, contributing to a broader understanding of gender gaps across various societal spheres. By examining these intersections, the project aims to contribute to new theoretical frameworks and research agendas that advance gender equality in the nonprofit sector. Additionally, it fosters cross-regional dialogue within Southern Italy, equipping local organizations with the knowledge and resources needed to address internal gender inequalities, thereby bridging a critical gap in the current understanding of gender disparities in Italy’s Third Sector. So far, the research has reached over 550 participants (30% men; 70% women), utilizing a mixed-method approach, integrating training events, focus groups, and in-depth interviews to capture diverse experiences related to gender issues within Third Sector organizations. In 2023-2024, data is collected through engagements with leaders and staff members, with a specific emphasis on women in leadership roles to highlight obstacles they face in career advancement (8 focus groups and 10 interviews already collected). This method enables the understanding of the persistent gender gaps in these organizations and the sociocultural factors that contribute to them. Furthermore, a core feature of this project is the development of practical tools for Third Sector organizations to self-assess and address gender disparities internally. Gender reports and plans developed through the project are designed to foster organizational change and create sustainable strategies for reducing internal gender gap. By analyzing participants’ personal experiences and perspectives, the study explores how gender roles and socialization processes impact leadership dynamics, organizational structures and the broader context of nonprofit work.