Mediterranean Welfare and 'Superwomen'

Abstract

Family members in South European countries have been able to preserve high levels of well-being due to the hyperactivity developed by cohorts of ‘superwomen’ (age groups between 40 and 59 years). These have combined their non-paid household activities with their increasing paid professional activities, a phenomenon that manifests itself in all social groups and classes. The hyperactive role played by superwomen within households has been very important for the ‘catching up’ up aspirations of Mediterranean countries and their success in the process of real economic convergence with the rest of EU countries. Sacrifices made by superwomen in the 1980s and 1990s have allowed South European countries to cope better with welfare retrenchment as compared to Central and Northern Europe. Superwomen have allowed a greater degree of gender equality for future generations, but their gradual disappearance may also bring about new uncertainties on whether the Mediterranean welfare regime can survive, as we have known it until present.