The Mediterranean puzzle: unpacking the fragile familialistic model

The nations of Southern Europe—Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece—share more than just a geographic location; they share a distinct approach to social welfare, based on deep-rooted social norms and culture. This model is formally known in sociology as the Southern European Familialistic Model (Esping-Adersen, Ferrera). It stands apart from the universalist Nordic systems or the conservative Central European models because it is fundamentally built upon the structural and cultural assumption that the family (particularly women) is the primary provider of social services and long-term care.

This reliance on the family has historically been sustained by strong cultural expectations of intergenerational solidarity and a deep commitment to kinship reciprocity. For decades, the provision of assistance for the non-self-sufficient elderly, disabled individuals, and children was largely managed within the family network, successfully keeping public expenditure low.

However, the 21st century has exposed a massive structural fissure in this historic foundation. A convergence of sociocultural changes (demographic ageing, increase of female participation in the labour market) has made the model unsustainable, also because of the residual approach of the State to the provision of LTC (Long-Term Care).

The result is a structural overload. The care that was once considered readily available because women were confined to the domestic sphere now directly competes with their careers and personal well-being. The familialistic welfare system, in its current form, essentially relies on the unpaid labour of women to function as a “buffer,” absorbing the shortcomings of the state—but at an extremely high social and economic cost.

Against this backdrop of demographic and economic strain, the study aims to reply to the following questions: What are the socio-demographic characteristics of informal caregivers in Southern Europe? What is the impact of caregiving activities on their employment status and participation in the labour market?

The gendered trap: why care remains a woman’s job

Secondary data on informal caregivers by Eurostat unequivocally show that the invisible burden is a gendered one. Research confirms the overwhelming prevalence of women among informal caregivers throughout the region.

The disparity is particularly acute in countries like Portugal and Spain, but is also significant in Italy. This imbalance is not accidental; it is the direct consequence of a deeply rooted social norm that assigns the primary role of health and well-being keeper to women. This role, though rooted in affection, translates directly into restricted autonomy and reduced economic opportunities in the professional world.

This is more than a simple lifestyle trade-off; it has massive economic implications. By providing care, women effectively subsidize the welfare state, saving public funds while simultaneously incurring a personal penalty in terms of lost income and smaller pension contributions. This care work directly exacerbates gender inequalities in the labour market, impeding professional development and career progression.

In sum, the traditional role of women as default caregivers is a major structural barrier to their full economic participation and ultimate independence.

A Ticking Clock: The Generational and Career Meltdown

The research further highlights a significant generational crisis within caregiving.

Who is doing the heaviest lifting? Primarily, the middle-aged cohorts, specifically those between 45–54 and 55–64 years old. These are the crucial years when professional careers should be peaking, earnings should be highest, and substantial retirement savings should be accumulating. When care responsibilities intensify during this window, the damage to a professional trajectory is devastating and often irreversible.

Data reveals a stark divergence in employment outcomes, especially for older women. Women in the 55–64 age bracket in countries like Italy and Spain are disproportionately classified as economically inactive. This suggests that as they approach retirement, caregiving obligations may force them out of the labour market entirely. This premature exit not only reduces the available labour force but condemns these women to a heightened risk of poverty and financial insecurity in their later years.

Even those women who manage to remain employed report more obstacles than men (long, unpredictable, or highly demanding working hours); moreover, male caregivers generally report greater access to flexible work arrangements compared to their female counterparts, reinforcing the institutional bias that makes it easier for men to balance both roles, while women are often forced to choose one or the other.

Revaluing care: possible actions to build a fairer future

In conclusion, secondary data depict the gendered and generational cost of care, demonstrating the unsustainability of the welfare familialistic model.

The path forward should begin with a radical revaluation and formal recognition of care as a primary social function, moving it away from being viewed solely as a private, domestic obligation.

Welfare measures should fundamentally address structural inequalities and the disproportionate burden of unpaid caregiving on women. This requires massive investment in public LTC to expand and improve high-quality services, directly supporting family caregivers. Crucially, this must be paired with economic and pension recognition: providing specific benefits or tax incentives and formally acknowledging this unpaid labour for social security and pension calculations, thus mitigating financial penalties for women. Furthermore, it is essential to introduce gender-equal, non-transferable, paid care leave for both men and women. Finally, legislative action must guarantee structural workplace flexibility, ensuring all employees with caregiving roles have the right to request flexible or reduced schedules, preventing career interruption from becoming the default solution.

By enacting these changes, Southern Europe can move beyond its outdated familialistic model. The goal is to ensure that the commitment to family solidarity no longer comes at the expense of women’s careers; it is high time to repay the debt to the invisible caregivers who have sustained the system for so long.

Image by Wikimedia Commons

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