The role of women in Italy's security sector has evolved significantly over the past century. Historically, Italian society was deeply rooted in traditional gender roles. The socio-political landscape started changing after the end of World War II as women increasingly entered the workforce and demanded equal rights, which began to challenge and dismantle long standing patriarchal structures.

Women in the Military

The integration of women into the Italian military has been a gradual process. Initially, their roles were limited to support and administrative functions. However, on October 20th 1999, when LawNo. 380/1999 was enacted[1],a significant break-through was made in the integration of women in the armed forces. This reform was part of a broader effort to modernize the armed forces and comply with international standards on gender equality. Today, women serve in various branches of the military, including combat roles. ​

Currently the Armed Forces and Carabinieri register the presence of 20,652 female personnel in 2023 out of 254,502 male personnel [2], therefore being more than the 6% of the total military personnel, confirming the growing trend compared to the 15 thousand women personnel present in 2018. The sectors more populated by women are the port authorities and the Army. 

Internationally, Italian female security personnel are employed as Staff Officers and Military Observers within the UN-led missions, which are mainly unarmed and people assistance positions. The current situation in regard to women in peacekeeping, in alignment with Resolution 1325 (2000) on “Women, Peace and Security”, which promotes a gender perspective in conflict resolution for lasting peace, has brought about a total of 42 female units deployed in 2020 in Lebanon, 21 in the Resolute support mission in Afghanistan; 7 in Iraq in the international coalition to counter the Daesh terrorist threat, 17 in the bilateral assistance and support mission in Libya, 7 in the MINUSMA mission in Mali and 2 in Djibouti.[3] 

Despite progress in integrating women into the Italian military, notable gender gaps persist. Women are predominantly found in support and administrative functions, as well as specific sectors which are non-combat respective to the position that men hold.  Even in international UN-led missions, Italian female personnel are often assigned to unarmed and people assistance positions rather than upfront military roles, reflecting the gendered division of labor. Additionally, women face challenges in advancing to higher ranks and leadership positions, with 10% of all women in the military being commanders in chief.

However, there is less discrimination in the recruitment process. With the new law in 1999, Italy focused on equal recruitment. There is no difference in the recruiting of men and women, except for some parameters, such as strength and resistance, similar to what happens for the evaluation of athletes. During training there are no specific differences between the preparation of men and women, there is only more legal protection for women personnel in case of pregnancy during the training.[4]

Women in the Police

Like the military, the inclusion of women in the Italian police force has seen substantial progress over the decades. In 2023, the total number of women in the State Police were 16,279 out of 98,316. 

The creation of women police started in 1959, but they were strictly restricted to helping male police with the aftermath of their missions. Women got access to the administrative tasks in 1981 with law No. 121/81. Active participation began in 1983 following the first open exam.[5]

Although reforms have allowed women to rise through ranks, their representation in executive positions remains disproportionately low. As of 2023, only 4 women out of the 39 highest-ranking “Dirigenti Generali” are women. This highlights ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity, particularly in leadership roles within the police force.

Conclusion

The role of women in Italy’s security sector has evolved significantly, reflecting broader societal changes post-World War II. Despite the advancement made through the years through laws and policies, significant gaps remain. Researching these dynamics is vital to understanding the barriers to gender equality and developing strategies to promote women’s advancement in the security sector.[6] 

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[1]Gazzetta Ufficiale Italiana, October 20 1999. https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/1999/10/29/099G0468/sg

[2]Camera dei Deputati, “Female Military personnel in the Armed Forces”, Camera dei Deputati. May 28 2024. https://temi.camera.it/leg19/temi/19_il-personale-militare-femminile-nelle-forze-armate.html#:~:text=Il%20personale%20militare%20femminile,al%20Parlamento%20nel%20febbraio%202024

[3] Globavia S.p.A, “ArmedForces: 6% of the Italian Military are Women”, Globavia S.p.A. https://www.globavia.it/post/106/armed-forces-6-of-the-italian-military-are-women#:~:text=Growing%20numbers%20around%20the%20World,the%20role%20played%20by%20.

[4]Camera dei Deputati, “Female Military personnel in the Armed Forces”, Camera dei Deputati. May 28 2024. https://temi.camera.it/leg19/temi/19_il-personale-militare-femminile-nelle-forze-armate.html#:~:text=Il%20personale%20militare%20femminile,al%20Parlamento%20nel%20febbraio%202024

[5] Michela Pascali, “PoliceWomen, a democratic path”, Collettiva. March8 2023. https://www.collettiva.it/speciali/anno-d/poliziotte-un-cammino-democratico-bd8t0h97

[6] Ministero dell’Interno,“Viminale in pink: the numbers of the women presence”, Ministero dell’Interno.8 2021. https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/viminale-rosa-i-numeri-presenza-femminile#:~:text=Sono%2058%20i%20prefetti%20donna,aggiunti%20su%20297%20(58%25)

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