The 1960s marked a period of profound socio-cultural changes in Italy, bringing about shifts in various facets of society. Among these transformations, the evolution of family structures played a pivotal role, reflecting the dynamic interplay of economic, social, and cultural forces. This blog post explores four key aspects characterising the changing landscape of family life during this transformative era.
Urbanisation and Industrialisation:
As Italy experienced an unprecedented economic boom in the 1950s and 1960s, the lure of better job opportunities drew many from rural areas to the bustling cities. This mass internal migration laid the foundation for urbanisation and industrialisation, reshaping traditional family structures. The once predominant extended families began to give way to smaller, more nuclear units, adapting to the demands and opportunities of urban life.
Smaller Family Sizes:
A notable departure from the historical norm was the decline in birth rates, marking a departure from the large, extended families of the past. Various factors contributed to this shift, including increased access to education and employment for women, the widespread availability of birth control, and evolving societal norms. Families embraced smaller sizes, reflecting a nuanced response to changing economic and cultural landscapes.
Nuclear Family Model:
The rise of the nuclear family became a defining feature of this era. In urban settings, families consisted predominantly of parents and their children, with diminished influence from extended family members. This shift had implications for childcare, decision-making, and support systems within the family unit. The nuclear family model emerged as a response to the demands of an evolving society.
Women’s Changing Roles:
The 1960s witnessed a paradigm shift in gender roles within Italian families. As economic opportunities expanded, more women entered the workforce and pursued higher education. This transformative period challenged traditional divisions of labour within households and contributed to a more egalitarian approach to family responsibilities. The changing role of women in family life reflected broader societal shifts toward greater gender equality.
Oriolo Romano, Lazio, 1965
Gianni Berengo Gardin took the above photograph in Oriolo Romano (Lazio) in 1965. The life and work of Gardin manifest a clear and defined commitment: that of being a comprehensive and unwavering documentary photographer. For Gardin, the role of a photographer involves adopting the position of an observer and choosing an attitude of participatory listening in the face of reality, echoing the practices of the great documentarians of the 20th century. During these years, Gardin consistently stood at the forefront, narrating, as the American sociologist and photographer Lewis Hine would put it, what needed to be changed and what deserved celebration.
With his camera lens, Gardin has long focused on Italy, delving into the realm of labour, capturing its physiognomy and transformations. He also directed his lens towards the condition of women, observing their experiences from north to south, capturing their sacrifices, expectations, and emancipation. Similarly, his attention extended to the distinctive world of the Romani travellers (Rom), a subject to which the author devoted considerable time, love, and numerous literary works.
Much like an ideal storyboard, Gardin’s images offer a visual narrative of the most significant milestones of the country’s recent past.
Captured in Oriolo Romano (about 40 km northwest of Rome) in 1965, this photograph serves as a visual documentation of the socio-cultural changes caused by the economic transformation within the country during this time. The image shows a discernible shift in attire spanning different generations, notably among females—evolving from long, black dresses to shorter, potentially more vibrant garments that reveal legs, a departure from the traditionally frowned upon practice. The pervasive choice of black attire, conventionally associated with widowers, further underscores the cultural nuances embedded in the visual narrative.
While not overtly apparent, implicit in the image is the suggestion of a family structure characterised by a notably more extensive number of individuals, a phenomenon poised to undergo a subsequent reduction in subsequent years. This nuanced observation hints at the intricate interplay between cultural shifts and demographic dynamics, all intricately woven into the fabric of Italy’s evolving socio-cultural landscape during this transformative period.
Sources:
Petri, Rolf. Storia economica d'Italia. Dalla grande guerra al miracolo economico (1918-1963). Bologna: Il Mulino, 2002.
Silveri, Umberto Gentiloni. Storia dell'Italia contemporanea 1943-2023. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2024.
Testa, Carlo. “La Nuova Italia Del Miracolo Economico: ‘Un Disco per l’estate’ Mezzo Secolo Fa.” Forum Italicum, vol. 49, no. 2, 2015, pp. 674–76, https://doi.org/10.1177/0014585815583292.
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