I am the message: Cecille
I AM THE MESSAGE.
Cecille represents someone who fought with herself until she disappeared, and then, in the deepest darkness, finally found life. #fighter
Cecile
Cecilia, alias Cecille, is one of those girls for whom just looking at them makes you think: how lucky. The hair, the eyes, the smile, the presence, the voice. She has them all. Then you listen to her story, which she tells you nowadays with a smile, and you discover that behind those big eyes there is a cursed mirror that unites many girls, little girls, who instead of screaming at a world that doesn't understand them, end up hurting the only person who judges them: their own image.
And yet, Cecille had for sure the voice to scream, since now she enchants thousands of people by singing for the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, while she shines like a sun.
However, the path to find that light was long and exhausting, "this is my second life", she says of her present. “From the age of 8 up to the age of 22 I lived wrapped up in complete darkness. Since my parents' separation I have gone through various stages and forms of suffering and great pain, both physical and mental. Depression, bullying and my massive eating disorders dragged me down a chasm I couldn't get back from."
Hers, is to all intents and purposes a second life: “Rebirth is something I believe in very much. I know what it means. When you know that kind of dark, for so long, coming back to life is really a choice. At a certain point you say: that's enough, this pain no longer belongs to me. And choose to rediscover the light. Sometimes I still have difficult moments, but if darkness was everywhere before, now it's just a passing shadow. In this second life, my mission is always to aim for the light”.
To get out of certain dark ravines, where life relegates you when you still don't know who you are, you have to find the strength of a hurricane to walk even a single centimeter towards a mission, a lighthouse. And after years of trying, Cecille has finally reached her lighthouse: singing. “Since I rediscovered life, I immediately went to the studio to create something about my experience. I told my story to producers, composers and arrangers, and started writing for the first time. I had always felt the need but never found the courage to do it. The most important sentence I wrote is "Attack me if I'm fragile". It may seem counterintuitive, but I understood that it is only by knowing our fragility that we are truly strong. They are two sides of the same coin."
Today she travels the world for music treasuring her journey: “After all those years I am finally able to appreciate life, love, and make sense of everything. I wake up every day and think about how grateful I am to be alive, and that deep down there is always a reason why we can thank life for what we have”.
I am the message: Olga
I AM THE MESSAGE.
Olga represents those who have the strength to get back into the game, always, even when it seems impossible. #believer
Olga Antropóva
Olga is a former athlete, the marketing manager of Savino Del Bene Volley, A1 division team, and Ekaterina's mother. When she tells her story, it is very clear that the determination gene runs in the family. “We came to Italy in 2017, when with my ex-husband we decided that here there was a chance for Ekaterina to become a volleyball star because the training system for young athletes and the Championship are the best in the world. At the time, however, I was almost forty years old and had an important role in the sports center of St. Petersburg. A home, a family, friends and relatives. A whole life built with commitment”.
How would you feel if you were told to hit the reset button and start from scratch again? This happened to Olga when she discovered her daughter's exceptional talent, and not enough prospects in Russia. It was like going back twenty years: “At 22 I had already moved with my husband to Iceland for three years. I was very young, didn't know anyone and didn't speak the language. I smiled, but inside I was very insecure and had little control over situations. Moving to Italy meant leaving everything again and starting from scratch starting from scratch after, back in Russia, I was able to find my way one step at a time”. She was also scared for Ekaterina: “She had her quiet life, her friends and her balance. I was afraid she wouldn't fit in, she was in her early teens and we all know how difficult it is. Also, our height makes us the target of a lot of attention. I was afraid to let her out of her bubble. For this reason, we immediately made it clear that if she wanted, we would immediately go back".
Olga finds the strength to change everything in love for her daughter and for her future: “The alternative would have been a Russian sports club inferior to the Italian ones and with very strict coaches, and I didn't want such a hard life for her. As much as it meant for me to sacrifice my path to give her hope, I blindly believe in her potential. In the family we are all former athletes and we hardly get blocked by obstacles. In the end, we decided to try Italy, leaving all our certainties behind. Luckily, she has a good time, the climate is perfect, the food is healthy and the people are fantastic”.
Even if there is Ekaterina in the field, the parallel story of her mother is fundamental. A woman who gives her daughter the courage to take the plunge and fight for what she believes in, at the cost of questioning everything. A woman who chooses to relive the trauma of loneliness, protecting her daughter in a conscious way, seeing herself again in her, and in the meantime pursuing her personal path of adaptation, new and more complex: "Still, after five years, I often feel alone even when I am with other people. I don't think I'm a hero, my daughter is part of me and I would do everything to make her dreams come true. I go to therapy to find a balance, but in the end, I think it's an interesting and useful path for me too. Changes always lead to an open mind and a panorama of opportunities that we didn't know we had".
I am the message: Ekaterina
I AM THE MESSAGE.
Ekaterina represents those who with strength and determination can really touch the sky while remaining that ball of normal and wonderful insecurities that we are all. #gamechanger
Ekaterina Antropóva
We will definitely hear from her. Grew up in Russia in a family of professional athletes, she learned from an early age to find the fire of determination within herself: “I started volleyball when I was seven because my mom insisted, I actually wanted to be a gymnast! The coach screamed and my arms hurt, I didn't like that sport, but I didn't give up. Something pushed me to keep going, and in the end, I learned to love it." Since then, Ekaterina and her passion have grown together, day after day, until they became one.
In 2017, when she was only fourteen and had a life full of small fundamental certainties for that age, the family decided to move to Italy to give her talent a real chance: "When I arrived, I was very young and I didn't know no one, I was afraid of not being understood and accepted. But, as sport teaches me, until you give up there is hope. I managed to find my dimension in this new home, and Italy became my life. It's been five years of hard work, sadness, injuries, hope, passion, love, gratitude, laughter, inspiration, happiness, confusion, acceptance, life." Today she plays for Savino Del Bene Volley in Serie A1 and is a true promise of Italian volleyball.
in addition to being a super athlete, Ekaterina is a girl like many of her age, full of passions and insecurities. Needless to say, when she walks into a room you can't help but lay eyes on her and admire her physicality. This, when you're a young woman who, like anyone, has days where she just wants to be transparent, is a continuous exposure that's not easy to wear: "I'm 6,62 feet, stop asking!" she repeated so often to want to write it in large letters on her Instagram account, with a touch of irony. A loud whisper for all those staring and pointing regardless of the person's sensitivity.
Luckily Ekaterina didn't let herself be discouraged by this, and has found a way to make peace with her body through another great passion: fashion! It was she who knocked on the Whispr window, fascinated by the garments and values we support, immediately showing us the desire to take the field for the challenges she believes in. And we fell in love with it. A game changer who carries out her small revolutions simply by being herself: “Being a woman in the world of sport is a difficult matter, you notice the difference in sports clubs between women and men athletes. Being a woman is neither an advantage nor a defect, but parity is still not close when it comes to opportunities, visibility and investment. This injustice is hard for me to understand."
Fortunately, she can rely on her teammates. An example of female solidarity: “An all-female team can be complicated but it all depends on the people you meet. I was very anxious when I arrived, being new and so young, sometimes it happens that there are too many strong characters and you can't find a meeting point, but I was lucky, I got on well. My teammates are points of reference for me and help me grow".
I am the message: Angelica
I AM THE MESSAGE.
Angelica represents all those precious and delicate chrysalises, turning into strong independent butterflies. #mywingsmylife
Angelica Gismondo.
Angelica flies with her ethereal dance like all great dancers, as if there were nothing binding them to the ground. Yet, to get to certain levels by solely following a passion, one must be clear-headed and well grounded. "Ever since I can remember, as soon as I heard music I would start moving, it was magical. At the age of 13 it was already no longer enough for me to stay in my dance school in Assisi, I needed something more, and to discover this wonderful world. I was admitted to the Academy in Monte Carlo and left my family to pursue my dream."
This is the story of many classical dancers with a great talent: leaving home while still children and entering the academy, sacrificing the carefree nature of that age, with the hope that this would become their future. "Those were very difficult years, I was far away from all my beloved ones, I didn't know anybody, and I was forced to figure everything out on my own. I was still too young to embrace those challenges, even though I felt inside that I was already an adult, and every day it was a test for my passion for dance."
Angelica grew up dancing tirelessly and learned early that in life, to get far, you need a sense of responsibility and hard work: "In the academy, everything you conquer - whether a perfect single dance step or a simple 'brava' from your teacher, till the possibility of having an extra year secured -, you have to sweat it out. It is a lesson you carry with you for life. On the other hand, you have to have a very strong and open family that supports you and gives you strength even from afar. However, this also involves having a huge responsibility on your shoulders. You develop from a very young age the idea that giving up means disappointing everyone and throwing away their sacrifices. And this is an unbearable burden at times."
After finishing the academy, Angelica joined the youth company of Cannes Jeune Ballet and then the Balletto di Milano company: "The approach with the company is initially positive, but right away you realize how far there is still to go. It's not enough to give your best, you have to stand out for who you are, for your uniqueness. It's a huge bet." And Angelica wins the bet, remaining above all true to herself even when it means going against the tide and trusting only her instincts: "After 7 years in the company of the Balletto di Milano, and having managed to get Prima Ballerina roles, I decided to quit. I felt that that was no longer my place. In my opinion, accepting what we live within ourselves, and not compromising with a stability that suffocates us, always pays us back."
The courage of believing in ourselves always comes at a price that we must be willing to pay: "Many people judge me because my life is focused a lot on myself instead of starting a family, as a woman in her 30s is supposed to do. I think however the most important goal is self-realization, because to create something solid the first solid pillar has to be you. We have to listen to ourselves if we want to grow. Sometimes, this will involve choices that will not be welcomed by everyone, but we should not be afraid. Life is ours."
By following our own passions we find what lies ahead, Angelica was right: "When I left everything behind, I was left alone with my decisions, and with nothing in hand. Then, unexpectedly, a job offer came along and changed my life. I left for Maestro Andrea Bocelli's tour as a dancer, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I will never stop following that little voice that shows me the way and reminds me that to feel complete I must dance, cherish my gift and give others, through my body, my emotions. The meaning of my life is kept in this."
I am the message: Sofia
I AM THE MESSAGE.
Sofia represents those who do not seek convenience or a safe harbor, but a port to set sail from, to make new discoveries and new adventures. #fearlessexplorer
Sofia Ciucchi
Sofia is Whispr, and Whispr is Sofia. When you ask the founder of this project to show herself and be photographed, she always turns up her nose and pushes others forward. But all you need to recognize her is her unmistakable laugh, to follow the thread of creativity, and look for a Napoli flag, yes, the soccer team: "I grew up on bread and soccer while crocheting, I always drive the algorithms crazy. They show me ads about prostate because I watch soccer, and then I follow feminist pages," she says, bursting out laughing as she does.
Indeed, Sofia takes life with commitment and irony, leaving others to define themselves by one word or one profession: "I don't have one definition. My life is a sum and layering of experiences that I have accumulated by going in search of things to change me, to understand myself and to discover new things. I am selective and cannot do things that would be just convenient for me to do. I prefer to occupy my time with people and activities that really interest me."
And her amazing 30-year career demonstrates this perfectly: "I studied economics, I love the world of business and management. I was living and working in Varese, Italy, when my mom cut out an ad in the newspaper of a blind selection as Organization Manager. I didn't know who the employer was, but it was an opportunity to get closer to home. I was selected, it was Ferragamo. So, I entered the fashion world by chance, and I fell in love with it: the creativity, the production skills, the cultural aspect. For the first fifteen years I worked on process, strategy and finance activities, for the last six I also coordinated the product divisions. I left Ferragamo after a lifetime to become CEO of Il Bisonte, where I had to roll up my sleeves and learn a lot of new things, and then moved on to general manager of Scervino, which gave me forever the passion and knowledge of the world of knitwear, which is fundamental for the Whispr line: knitwear is a seemingly easy and super democratic product, but in reality, is very technical and the result of a lot of work."
Listening to the milestones of her career, it is natural to wonder how Whispr happened, and Sofia laughs again, "The first time my husband saw me at a market presenting Whispr, sitting at a small table with shirts on it, while I was reading Grossman's Stalingrad, at the age of 55, he put his hands on his face and we laughed about it. My interests have always exceeded economics and business, and in recent years I have become particularly passionate about social impact, civil economy, and sustainability. All these fields were quite distant from my almost 30 years as a manager in big structured companies. A desire was born in me to do my own project, with a different idea of work, putting what I had learned to the test and in the service of others. While I had already started as consultant and business angel, to invest in women's startups, I worked for months with a couple of friends to bring the Whispr project to life. The idea of fashion and women matured at the same time: the topic that I always felt closer to me was the role of women in the workplace, and fashion is the language we have chosen to bring this topic forward after years of experience in the industry."
She left behind all her certainties driven by the need to work for values beyond profit; she started from scratch, moving from familiar and comfortable management positions to a start-up, which by definition is new and emerging: "Needless to say, it is not easy to go from large and structured companies where you coordinate 300 people and one business card is enough to introduce yourself, to a reality where nothing works on its own, where you have to box the merchandise while being a manager, and when you have to knock on doors to introduce a brand new thing. It's disorienting, and it's normal to wonder who made me open a startup at my age, when this is usually done at an age when you have freedom to make mistakes and have few patterns behind you. Will it be a success? Who knows, you just put yourself out there, jump in and try, trying to engage people based on common values and shared ideas."
And although no one can reassure Sofia about what the future will be, listening to her story gives you a sense of comfort, as if anything is possible, at any time, as if the values that Whispr promotes, of which both Sofia and Whispr are a flag, are tangible: gender gap, activism, sustainability, freedom, rebirth, empowerment. "I don't regret it at all. It is tiring but inspiring, I am confronted with realities I never imagined, and I realize that people's lives mostly take place in bubbles that you only realize when you get out of them. The dream is to slowly be able to create a community in the real sense, to go back to places and meet again those who met you, those who wear your brand, which is not just a business but a network of people who choose people."
T-Shirts Whispr X Oxfam Italia.
Whispr is excited to announce its partnership with Oxfam Italia!
In all of its programs, Oxfam works to ensure gender justice and women's rights. For this reason, Whispr has decided to take action by giving concrete help to Oxfam's projects for women, with a series of initiatives for communication and fundraising.
The collaboration consists in the production of three gender equality T-shirts.
For Whispr, words have the power to change the world and the ones we chose for this partnership are particularly meaningful for us:
I SHARE POWER
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
DIVERSITY
Thanks to this campaign, every single T-shirt purchased will concretely help Oxfam empower 50 women in social and economic need, with education, training and professional orientation.
We will need all the support we can get from our community to give these projects a voice.
Hello Sheetal!
Super positive, extrovert and solar, Sheetal was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in business with a major in marketing. She is passionate about fashion, photography, and art. She is interested in advocacy for women's rights and environmentally sustainable production processes. She believes that women and men should be treated equally in and out of the workplace. “My ambition is to use my creativity and marketing skills to work for a socially responsible and ethical fashion brand.”
Meet Romane
Join us in welcoming Romane into our Whispr Community! Born in the French Reunion Island, Romane is now an exchange student at Bocconi University in Milan. Romane strongly believes in gender equality and she volunteered at the G20 Women's Forum, which made her even more aware of the challenges women are facing globally. "Whispr, aiming at connecting and empowering women, is the kind of brand that makes me feel better and that I want to support", says Romane. "Being part of this project is an amazing opportunity for standing up for a cause I really care about!" Thank you Romane, honored to have you as our ambassador!
Introducing Carla
Born and bred in a peaceful town by the sea, near Marsiglia, Carla is a French final year marketing master student currently on exchange at Bocconi University in Milan.
One of her passions has been ballet and art. She has been practicing ballet in competition for 15 years.
She is passionate about art, food and wellness. Interested in women's empowerment and in conscious consumption, she believes that a purpose-driven brand plays a strong role within society and it can turn its customers into activists. Her ambition is to leverage on her passion and creativity to launch an inspiring project and promote a sustainable future. “To me, collaboration with plural talents and building a sense of community around the topic are key levers to raise global awareness. That is why, I loved to contribute to this project by being a brand ambassador taking part in the campaign. I'm proud to spread a message of equality, of justice and respect through high-quality and desirable lines.”
W"re! Whispr’s new collection beckons to spring with its ambitious message of sisterhood
Whispr introduces its spring collection with a powerful, ambitious statement: W"re!
That would be W for Woman, W for Whispr and W for We, who face obstacles without fear. No one can stop us or bring us down as we fight for what we believe in. Our whispered words gather power as they bounce from one woman to another, emerging as a single voice that speaks for all of us, helping us to develop our personal and professional networks. In its purest sense, the Whispr community is about sisterhood.
This collective spirit is at the core of Whispr’s spring collection, developed in collaboration with the students of Bocconi University’s Enterpreneurship and Strategic Innovation in the Fashion Industry course, taught by professors Stefania Saviolo and Elisabetta Marafioti. Whispr invited this group of 15 highly motivated and ambitious young women, all of whom are involved in fighting against gender inequality, to share their ideas.
They’re an international bunch, hailing from Canada, Thailand, Madagascar, Japan, the United States and France, not to mention Italy, of course. They’re in their early 20s and just starting their careers but have already seen what it means to be a woman in the workplace. They know how difficult it is to achieve recognition and how hard they must fight to participate in society on equal footing with men. Their university studies have allowed them to develop Whispr’s brand strategy, working on each step of the spring collection, from creative concept to marketing and communications strategy to community development.
This intergenerational exchange between these students and Whispr’s founders culminated in an advertising campaign featuring 6 of the 15 students posing in pieces from the latest Whispr collection for 29-year-old photographer Irene Iovane Manzillo, making the young women brand ambassadors in addition to strategic advisors. Some shots also feature a young man – a deliberate choice that serves as a reminder to all that women need the support of men in their fight for equality. Solidarity of the sexes is required if true equality is to flourish.
Whispr’s spring collection is also connected to a special project developed for the brand’s young consumers, each of whom will be eligible to take a psychometric test devised by LaborPlay, a company specialized in skills evaluation and development. It’s a tool to assist young women in getting their professional bearings through a better understanding of their interests and inclinations. It’s also part of Whispr’s broader goal of supporting young women after they complete their university studies.
Whispr’s spring/summer 2022 collection is divided into three product categories, each associated with a different set of keywords related to female empowerment, in keeping with the brand’s identity.
1. Believers. This ribbed line is in organic cotton and eco-viscose. It includes a half-sleeved t-shirt that’s solid on the front and striped in the back; a tank top with contrasting trim; and a boxy turtleneck with intarsia lettering.
The keyword is W’re, the underlying message that runs throughout the collection. The community is also connected to the words Free, Fearless and Powerful: three assertive “we are” statements that appear as intarsia on the back of the neckline for the t-shirt and tank top, and on the lower back for the boxy top.
2. Gentle Fighters. The crop top and mini mesh tank dress in 100% organic cotton with a trapeze shape are reminiscent of basketball jerseys, but also feature crochet-style weaving.
The keywords are Bold and Brave and appear one after the other across the back of each garment like running headlines on a television newscast. They’re strong, just like all the women who change the world through their kindness.
3. Activists. This set, in a light cotton jersey, is composed of a crop top and knee-length maxi dress with uneven, multicolored stripes. Practical and perfect for everyday wear, these pieces have an unmistakably sporty (and activist) appeal.
The keywords are Gender Equality Revolution: enough said!
Gender Gap Svizzera: le donne guadagnano il 20% meno
La disparità salariale è un fenomeno trasversale e globale, un problema reale anche per la ricca Svizzera e Ginevra si schiera a favore delle donne con uno sconto dedicato alle sue cittadine. Se mediamente le donne guadagnano il 20% in meno rispetto agli uomini, la giunta comunale si è messa al lavoro per migliorare la situazione e favorire la parità economica con un’iniziativa originale, uno sconto riservato alle donne residenti del 20% per i servizi delle strutture comunali, teatri, musei, piscine e centri sportivi.
L’iniziativa è stata promossa dalla psicologa Brigitte Studer e dai consiglieri comunali di Ensemble à Gauche, l’idea è maturata in seguito allo sciopero delle donne. Il 14 giugno di 3 anni fa le donne svizzere organizzarono uno sciopero di protesta, contro la revisione della legge sull’uguaglianza tra i due sessi, che non prevedeva alcuna sanzione contro il mancato rispetto della parità salariale tra i due sessi. “Considerando il divario salariale uomo-donna, abbiamo pensato di dare un segnale per compensarlo”, hanno dichiarato i consiglieri comunali. It’s time to close the GAP!
Sanremo e le competenze, Sabrina Ferilli e la libertà di essere se stesse
Ci sono piaciute le riflessioni schiette e suggestive sulla competenza e sulla condizione femminile, Brava Sabrina Ferilli: Sono stati due anni molto duri, in cui di monologhi ce ne siamo fatti anche tanti. Allora mi sono chiesta cosa dire ed ho fatto piccole riunioni in famiglia. I temi sono tutti importanti, quelli civili, sociali ed umani. Quindi era difficile scegliere. Ho pensato di poter parlare di famiglie, di donne, che fanno tanto per mandarle avanti, lavorano, rientrano a casa, educano, ma io non ho figli, sono un'attrice avviata, ho anche un marito benestante, ma perché devo andare sulle palle? Allora ho detto: parliamo di uomini. Uomini che hanno troppo potere ancora e decidono per le donne, uomini che occupano ruoli di gerarchia. Ho chiesto di farlo agli uomini che comandano, e c'ho rinunciato. Allora ho pensato di parlare di un tema che ci riguarda tutti: la bellezza. Ma sono tre giorni che mangio radici pe' entrà dentro questo vestito. E non ero credibile. Allora mi sono detta di parlare di amori, anche quelli più particolari e asfissianti. Poi però ho pensato che qui abbiamo Amadeus, che ha il profilo di coppia su Instagram. Che se scrivi a lui, devi scrive’ pure a Giovanna, la moglie. E ho pensato che non mi sembrava il caso. E allora ho pensato a temi importanti. Femminismo, body positivity, mansplaining, inclusione. Sono tutti argomenti importanti, ma io penso che per parlarne bisogna che lo faccia chi su questi argomenti ci si sporca le mani davvero, chi li studia e li conosce, e magari anche da palchi meno scintillanti di questo. Perché io sono molto rispettosa delle competenze altrui. E penso che ognuno deve parlare di quello che sa, altrimenti nel sottopancia mi sarei fatta scrivere "virologa, attrice, allenatrice di calcio, esperta di calamità naturali", come credono di essere gli italiani medi sui social. Quindi? Riscaldamento della terra, sovrappopolazione, disparità salariale. Sarebbero tutti argomenti… Ma poi mi sono detta: ma perché la presenza mia deve essere per forza legata a un problema? Perché devo dare un senso oltre a quello che sono, per giustificare che sto qua? Io sono qua per il mio lavoro. E questa è la cosa più preziosa, la nostra storia, è questo ciò che accompagna ogni donna. Non è che non so che ci sono cose da cambiare. E' perché in tempi così pesanti bisogna saper planare sulle cose con un cuore senza macigni, come diceva Italo Calvino. Perché leggerezza non è superficialità.
Laureate più motivate e intraprendenti, laureati più occupati e pagati
Laureate e laureati: scelte, esperienze e realizzazioni professionali, è il primo rapporto di genere presentato dal consorzio universitario Almalaurea. Il Rapporto ha preso in considerazione 291.000 laureati in Italia nel 2020, e 655.000 laureati del 2019, 2017 e 2015, intervistati a uno, tre e cinque anni dal conseguimento del titolo. Dall’analisi è emerso che proviene da una famiglia in cui almeno uno dei genitori ha la laurea il 28,3% delle laureate (34,3% dei laureati), se i genitori sono laureati, le donne seguono le loro orme con minore frequenza (consegue la laurea nello stesso ambito disciplinare di uno dei genitori il 18,8% delle donne e il 21,7% degli uomini), soprattutto nelle lauree magistrali a ciclo unico, ossia quelle discipline che indirizzano verso la libera professione. Le donne prendono parte più degli uomini alle esperienze di tirocinio curriculare (61,4% rispetto al 52,1%), alle esperienze di lavoro durante gli studi (66,0% rispetto al 64,0%) e a quelle di studio all’estero (11,6%, rispetto al 10,9% degli uomini). All’ingresso del mondo del lavoro lo scenario cambia, da subito, con una differenza retributiva di 89 euro a un anno dall’ingresso nel mondo del lavoro a favore degli uomini. Il tasso di occupazione registra percentuali a favore degli uomini: tra i laureati di primo livello a cinque anni dal titolo è pari all’86,0% per le donne e al 92,4% per gli uomini; tra quelli di secondo livello rispettivamente 85,2% e 91,2%. Inoltre, a cinque anni dal titolo, in presenza di figli il divario di genere si amplifica ulteriormente. Per gli uomini più lavoro autonomo o alle dipendenze con un contratto a tempo indeterminato. Per le donne, più contratti alle dipendenze a tempo determinato. A cinque anni dalla laurea, gli uomini percepiscono, in media, circa il 20% in più, sono infatti soprattutto gli uomini a occupare professioni di alto livello, di tipo imprenditoriale o dirigenziale (2,2% tra le donne e 3,9% tra gli uomini) e a elevata specializzazione, ossia per cui è richiesta almeno una laurea di secondo livello (61,7% tra le donne e 63,6% tra gli uomini). Tra i laureati dei percorsi STEM i differenziali di genere, pur sempre a favore degli uomini, risultano più contenuti. It’s time to close the gap!
Stacey Macken has been awarded more than £2m for sexual discrimination and unequal pay
A witch’s hat left on her desk by drunken male colleagues, a four-year period and hundreds of thousands of pounds less than her male peers in salary and bonuses, requests for a more equal treatment and her boss who kept telling her “not now, Stacey” – a phrase he used so often that colleagues even copied it. After she complained, managers targeted her with unfair treatment. Stacey Macken sued French bank BNP Paribas after being belittled by her boss and colleagues and has been awarded more than £2m for sexual discrimination. £2,081,449 one of the largest awards ever made by a British tribunal. Macken, 22-year career in banking, was hired by BNP in Paribas in 2013 as £120k-a-year finance specialist - a man hired with the same job title and responsibilities was being paid £160,000. Stacy Macken was successful in her claims of sex discrimination, victimisation, and unequal pay. The employment judge, Emma Burns, criticised Macken’s bosses for acting “spitefully and vindictively” and increased her compensation because the bank failed to apologise to her. The bank claimed it has now adopted a “detailed gender strategy and gender action plan” in response to its poor gender pay gap and is “trying to increase the number of women at senior management level”. It’s time to close the gap!
Constantini e Mosaner, tecnica e forza mentale in un perfetto equilibrio di coppia sul ghiaccio
L’Italia ha appena vinto l’oro in questa antica disciplina alle Olimpiadi invernali di Pechino 2022 con un fantastico risultato di undici vittorie su undici. La nostra squadra formata da Stefania Constantini e Amos Mosaner ha battuto quella norvegese portando a casa la prima medaglia d’oro in assoluto del curling italiano nella specialità doppio misto. L’idea di una competizione in doppio misto nel curling è nata negli anni ’90 per rendere il gioco più veloce e spettacolare. È stata inclusa nei giochi olimpici invernali solo dal 2018 e, invece dei normali quattro giocatori, prevede che la squadra sia composta solo da due giocatori, uno di sesso femminile e l’altro maschile. Assistere allo loro strepitosa vittoria è stata una vera e propria meraviglia e non solo per il portentoso risultato sportivo. Se guardiamo da una prospettiva diversa possiamo vedere anche molto altro. Stefania Constantini e Amos Mosaner si sono rivelati una squadra dai ruoli perfettamente bilanciati: entrambi tirano il sasso così come entrambi spazzano in un’equa divisione dei ruoli. Già questo, anche se previsto dal regolamento, potrebbe essere un aspetto interessante. I nostri due protagonisti hanno però contribuito personalmente mettendo in atto una comunicazione efficace e reciprocamente rispettosa che ha determinato un grande spirito di collaborazione, che in una squadra è un elemento indispensabile. Il tutto è stato condito da una concentrazione impeccabile ma che sfociava sempre in grandi sorrisi. Potrebbe sembrare un azzardo fantasioso ma le modalità messe in atto da Stefania Constantini e Amos Mosaner potrebbero essere prese in considerazione per la valutazione di un nuovo modello sociale e familiare ma non solo. Pensare a un’equa suddivisione dei compiti, lavorare in modo collaborativo come in una squadra, mantenere costantemente attiva la comunicazione e sempre sul piano del rispetto reciproco, questi potrebbero essere gli ingredienti giusti per ottenere ottimi risultati. I nostri giovanissimi atleti sembra lo abbiano dimostrato, ora tocca a noi riflettere su come poter fare altrettanto nelle nostre squadre anche se non sono olimpiche. Paola Giannò, L'altroFemminile.
Whispr Talks - Stefania Saviolo
Stefania Saviolo è Lecturer del Dipartimento di Management e Tecnologia dell'Università Bocconi. Abbiamo parlato con lei di determinazione e coraggio per un percorso professionale di successo. Hey Sis, it’s time to commit and follow through to create a long lasting change!
Whispr Talks - Giovanna Badalassi
Giovanna Badalassi, expert of welfare and gender policies & co-founder of Ladynomics .
Hey Sis, it’s time to commit and follow through to create a long lasting change!
Italia, Oltre 7 milioni di donne inattive
In Italia non sono “occupate”, né cercano un’occupazione oltre 7 milioni di donne tra i 30 e i 69 anni - il 43% delle donne in quella fascia d’età, contro una media europea del 32%. Si tratta principalmente di casalinghe a tempo pieno per scelta oppure obbligate, a causa dalle barriere incontrate all’ingresso o al reingresso nel mercato del lavoro.
Inattive sono anche le lavoratrici andate in pensione a un’età più giovane (2,5 milioni tra pensioni di anzianità, sociali e di invalidità). Il dato più preoccupante riguarda il Sud e le Isole dove più di una donna su due (58%) non lavora, né è in cerca di un’occupazione, mentre al Nord sono tre su dieci le inoperose.
Associate a questi risultati, l’età e l’istruzione: le attive tra i 35 e i 44 risultano il 70,6%, quelle tra i 55 e i 64 anni il 47,4%. Solo l’8,4% delle donne inattive invece è laureata, il 41,5% di chi ha la licenza media non è occupata né cerca un’occupazione. E dal 1990 a oggi, il tasso di attività è rimasto fermo. È quanto emerge dal nuovo rapporto di Randstad Research, "Le isole delle donne inattive". Proprio come le isole, molte donne rischiano l’isolamento.
Per le neo-mamme, uscire dal mercato del lavoro risulta a volte essere l’unica via percorribile. Dai dati dell’ispettorato nazionale del lavoro, nel 2020, su 42mila genitori di bambini tra gli 0 e i 3 anni che si sono dimessi, il 77% erano donne. L’assenza di una solida rete di servizi per l’infanzia e l’inadeguata copertura di congedi retribuiti per le madri sono alcune delle cause.
“No man is an island”. Not even women.
Lego announces the end of gender bias in their toys
Following a global survey commissioned by Lego and conducted by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the Danish company announced they’ll take steps towards removing gender-bias in their toys and marketing, including stopping the use of labelling toys "for girls" or "for boys". Lego will also work to expand the diversity of characters and roles represented in their products, in the hopes of every child being able to identify with the toys.
Mums, get ready to become master builders! (Lego ensures that Building has never been more fun with their Building Instructions app…just in case you need it :)
Women reached highest levels in politics in 2021
In 2021, eight countries have elected or sworn in their first woman Head of State or Government, with Barbados, Estonia and Moldova having women as President and Prime Minister for at least part of the year. The year started off with Kaja Kallas taking office in January as Estonia’s first woman Prime Minister. Samia Suluhu Hassan became Tanzania’s first woman President in March. In May, Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa was elected Prime Minister of Samoa. June saw Robinah Nabbanja nominated to the role of Prime Minister of Uganda. Najla Bouden Ramadhane was named Tunisia’s Prime Minister in September, making her the first woman to lead a country in the Arab region. After a 2020 decision that Barbados would become a Republic, the first presidential election held in October 2021 saw Sandra Mason become the country’s first-ever female President. Sweden’s parliament voted in Magdalena Andersson as Prime Minister in November. In December, Xiomara Castro was elected President of Honduras, and she will officially take office in 2022. Overall, 2021 was a good year for women in politics. Albania has a record-setting 70 per cent women cabinet, Germany got its first gender-equal cabinet, and Iraq and Kosovo exceeded their gender quotas for parliament. In January Kamala Harris took office as the first woman Vice President of the United States. Harris is also the first Black-American and Asian-American to fill the role.
No hope so far for us, poor Italians… :(
Women directors finally get more recognition
Chloé Zhao made history last year at the 2021 Oscars, when she became the first woman of colour and the first woman of Asian descent to earn best director at the Academy Awards. She is the second woman in the history of the Oscars to be named best director , following the footsteps of Kathryn Bigelow, in 2010. This was also the first year ever that two women were nominated for best director. During the 93-year history of the Oscars, only seven women have been nominated in the director category, including 2021 nominees, Zhao and Fennell. The Golden Globe awards also recognized women directors’ achievements with three women who have been nominated in the best director category. This was the first time more than one woman has been shortlisted in a single year. Previously, only five women were ever nominated in the 77-year awards history.
“Action!”, girls!
A Dutch museum permanently features women artists
The Rijksmusem in Amsterdam announced that three 17th century paintings by women artists will be placed on permanent display in the Gallery of Honour, this is the first time in its 200-year history. The three works, The Serenade by Judith Leyster, the Memorial Portrait of Moses ter Borch by Gesina ter Borch and Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase by Rachel Ruysch, are now on display in the Gallery of Honour, alongside the museum’s other most-prized Dutch masterpieces. “Women play an important role in the cultural history of the Netherlands. Until now, however, women have been missing from the Rijksmuseum’s gallery of honour. It is crucial that we keep examining and enriching the Rijksmuseum’s centuries-old collection from new perspectives. We do so through both research and presentation. By asking new questions and studying a range of sources and objects, we can provide a more complete story of the Netherlands” - said Taco Dibbits, Director of the Rijksmuseum.