Focus groups in Italy, in May

The Stereotype Smashers: The Gender Equality Game project took an important step towards understanding gender dynamics in the world of work through two dedicated series of focus groups, held in Italy and Sweden.

In Italy, we brought together women and men working in small and medium-sized enterprises, representing different sectors and roles.

The sessions took place in a safe, stimulating setting designed to bring out experiences, perceptions and challenges related to gender stereotypes.

The questions designed to guide the conversations surfaced themes such as widespread assumptions (for example: “Is flexible work only for women?”), difficulties in professional relationships (such as delegating “traditionally female” tasks) and the impact of implicit behaviours on wellbeing, motivation and development opportunities.

The discussion was rich and illuminating: many common themes emerge across SMEs, from the difficulty of separating personal and professional life to the weight of social expectations.