Atlas of Childhood (at risk) -2020 Edition

The 2020 edition of the Atlas of Children at Risk highlights the profound inequalities that have marked our country since early childhood, focusing on the condition of girls and young women and on gender equality. Italy is found to be a country that is “not child-friendly,” but even less so for girls.

The path to gender equality still appears to be very long and complex. Our country does not seem capable of implementing a series of measures that would affect not only the education system but also local welfare and the central role of the family and the wider “educating community.” The influence of gender stereotypes on the paths and abilities of girls and young women is still evident and influences their choices and interests. In fact, there is talk of the “illusion of equality.”

The systematic and deep-rooted gender inequalities in our society, which are formed in early childhood and leave girls and young women behind their male peers, have exploded with the pandemic. Covid-19 has proven to be a huge accelerator of inequality. The virus is dramatically slowing down all efforts to combat inequality, has closed schools, and threatens to plunge many new families into poverty.

The Atlas of Childhood aims to describe this condition through data and indicators such as educational poverty, training, unemployment, and absolute poverty.

This edition is edited by Vichi De Marchi, with the collaboration of Diletta Pistono and Elena Scanu Ballona, and enriched by the contributions of seven important writers: Viola Ardone, Ritanna Armeni, Susanna Mattiangeli, Rosella Postorino, Carola Susani, Igiaba Scego, Nadia Terranova, as well as that of the poet and children’s writer Bruno Tognolini, and an insert on women’s children’s publishing edited by Andersen.

The Atlas is accompanied by maps, graphs, and infographics created by gisAction that clearly and communicatively illustrate annual data and trends over time.