Religious socialization and the changing role of women: the Italian case

Many scholars look at the micro-dynamics of religious transmission within the family to explain the aggregate change we observe across different dimensions: younger and less religious cohorts replace older and more religious ones. Italy is not exceptional in this respect. The new data collected for the TORAG (Transmission of Religion Across Generations) project make clear how religious transmission within the family is relevant for such a process of change and that the role played by mothers is crucial. According to this theoretical perspective, change in religious transmission should be traced back to change in the social role played by women. In contemporary Italy—as in many other Western societies—women changed their role across different fields, increasing their participation in the education system and in the labor market. Based on TORAG and EVS (European Values Study) data, we found that the position women occupy in the private and public domains affects their religiosity and the willingness to transmit it to their offspring. Especially participation in the labor market increases the amount of time women spend in the public domain, lowering the relevance attached to religion. Work becomes a secular alternative reducing the time available for religion and the religious socialization of children.