Women in Wine. A review of women's role in the wine sector in Italy

The working relationship of women within the wine sector has been an extensive and contentious journey towards greater inclusion. This thesis explores the progress that women have made in the Italian wine sector, and considers the obstacles, barriers, pitfalls, and challenges women face in their advancement. It achieves its aims through a systematic literature review based on journal articles, reports and statistical databases on the Italian wine sector and workplace. Initially, the thesis considers women’s role in contemporary Italy, and then investigates their role in the Italian wine sector. Particular focus is given to Italian wine sector’s recent economic history and its institutional evolution. The systemic barriers of discrimination that women face in the workplace, both socially and economically, are discussed, juxtaposed with the progress they have made in Italy’s traditionally male-dominated wine profession. The main problem this thesis attempts to address is whether a lack of career progression for women in the wine industry in Italy is apparent. Further it seeks to identify the factors that contribute to career barriers and the measures that exist to address these barriers in the wine sector. There is limited research available specifically regarding this topic. In general, the combination of gender and labour literature has demonstrated a persisting theme of inequality, imbalances and barriers leading to under-representation of women in industry in general and in the wine sector. The perception from the findings from this literature is that women have taken significant steps toward greater representation in the sector as they have started to take on critical roles within wine. While today most countries with wine cultures have developed legal policies and legislation to move towards a more progressive and equal society for men and women, these steps have not been without their tribulations. The findings illustrate that women have had to make their way past gender stereotypes and generational ancestral insecurities, leading to limited progress in the wine sector. This research hopes to further highlight women’s significant role at each phase in the wine production chain and, with their increasing visibility, create a standardised view of women’s place in the wine sector.