What does it mean to be a “good” parent in contemporary Italy? Why do so many mothers—and increasingly, fathers—experience feelings of guilt around work, family, and care? And what can social science contribute to understanding and addressing these emotions?
These are the central questions driving the MatGuilt project (Maternal Guilt: Measurement, Correlates, and Policy Solutions in the Italian Context), a two-year research initiative led by Prof. Giulia Dotti Sani and funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research under the PRIN 2022 scheme.
On October 6, 2025, we will host the final workshop of the project at the University of Milan. This one-day event brings together national and international scholars to discuss original findings from the MatGuilt project and reflect on how parental guilt is shaped by gender norms, structural inequalities, and changing policy landscapes.
🔍 Workshop Highlights
The workshop will begin at 9:30 with a welcome coffee and opening remarks from Prof. Roberto Pedersini, Head of the Department of Social and Political Sciences, and MatGuilt PI Giulia Dotti Sani.
Morning Session (10:30–13:00)
Findings from the MatGuilt Project
- What makes the ideal mother in Italy? An experimental analysis of personal preferences and societal expectations – Prof. Nevena Kulic, University of Pavia
- “The feeling that’s always there”: Parental guilt and its correlates in the Italian context – Dr. Natalia Soboleva, University of Milano
- Does guilt shape employment and fertility? A preliminary assessment – Prof. Giulia Dotti Sani, University of Milano
- Hybrid Work, maternal guilt, and the city: Policy frameworks and personal meanings in two Italian urban contexts – Dr. Cristina Burini & Prof. Gemma Scalise, University of Milano-Bicocca
Light lunch (13:00–14:00)
Afternoon Session I (14:00–16:00)
International Perspectives on Parenthood and Guilt
- Following Young Fathers Further: exploring the parenting journeys and support needs of young fathers over time in the UK – Prof. Anna Tarrant, School of Social and Political Sciences, College of Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Lincoln
- Work-family guilt as straitjacket keeping parents in traditional gender roles – Dr. Lianne Aarntzen, Social, Health and Organizational Psychology department, Utrecht University
- Discussion: Prof. Anne-Marie Jeannet, University of Milano
Afternoon Session II (16:30–17:30)
Addressing Parental Guilt in Society
- Moderated roundtable with all speakers, chaired by Prof. Gemma Scalise
- Key takeaways & future research directions
🔬 A Research Agenda with Social Relevance
The MatGuilt project combines quantitative and qualitative research to examine how guilt is distributed across different family forms, employment situations, and socio-economic contexts. Its findings suggest that guilt is not just a private emotion, but a socially structured experience—linked to ideals of motherhood, ambivalent fatherhood models, and inadequate policy support.
The final workshop is both a culmination and a beginning: an opportunity to take stock of what we’ve learned, and to outline a future research agenda on emotional inequalities, care infrastructures, and policy solutions that support parents—not just as providers or caregivers, but as full human beings.
📌 Practical Information
- 🗓 Date: October 6, 2025
- 🕤 Time: 9:30 – 17:30
- 🏛 Location: Sala Lauree, Via Conservatorio 7, University of Milan
- 🌍 Hybrid format: Click here to join via Teams
For more details, visit www.spstrend.it/matguilt
Contact: giulia.dottisani@unimi.it