Abstract

This essay is aimed at verifying whether the theory according to which European social protection systems, inspired by the model named after Bismark, secure forms of indirect social protection (such as survivor benefits) to women just because women are supposed to be the sole responsible for care within the family, fits to the Italian social protection system. It also aims at verifying, within the same system, if the so called adult worker model can be considered as a suitable alternative solution. Essay's findings shows that the Italian Constitution has adopted to some extent a gender role model but also that the Italian Legislature, starting from the Seventies, has constantly operated in order to withdrawn all gender oriented provisions in the social field, by emphasising elements of the adult worker model which were already present within the Constitution itself. However, in order to avoid a comeback of the gender role model, some constitutional reforms are needed.