The History of Diversity in Italy from 1861 to 1945: An Analysis of Society, Workplaces and Businesses

The history of diversity and its management in Italian workplaces has evolved through various societal and economic phases. In ‘Liberal Italy’ (1861–1922), diversity fuelled discrimination, with the state limiting voting rights based on gender, age, skill and wealth. Companies exploited women and children to maintain a low-cost workforce, leading to gender segregation in industries and certain professions, such as teaching. Laissez-faire policies resulted in both exploitation and segregation. As Italy transitioned from the First to the Second Industrial Revolution (1902–1922), protective laws for women and children improved conditions but also led to their exclusion from the workforce. Women faced conflicting views from the Catholic and socialist perspectives, while World War I and the resulting industrial reconversion temporarily halted this exclusion. In Fascist Italy (1922–1945), diversity was fully excluded from public life, with legalised discrimination making the workforce predominantly male and age the most significant diversity factor within companies.