The Gender of Corruption.
Corrupt Practices and Prevention Policies
Corruption is installed on structures of inequality already rooted in the social system, positions of vulnerability, poverty and still patriarchal laws and becomes a mechanism that excludes women from decision-making processes, making it difficult for them to obtain justice or economic opportunities. Therefore, the inclusion of a gender perspective in governance can reduce corruption and improve transparency and have a positive impact on the quality of the country's institutions and governance.
However, women are immune to corruption, but it is conceivable that the lower participation in corruption episodes could be a direct consequence of their lower presence in top positions rather than greater intrinsic integrity. Although there is no extensive specific literature on "women and corruption" in Italy, there are several international studies that indicate general trends that can also be applied to the Italian context. In Italy, as in the rest of the world, female participation in institutions has increased, the law on “gender quotas” has certainly contributed to the increase in the boards of directors of public and private companies, contributing to greater diversity and transparency. However, women in leadership positions have often had to face additional challenges related to sexism and discrimination.
Italy has adopted various anti-corruption measures in recent years, the Severino Law (2012), the National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC). Another important factor in this relationship is the “sexism” present in the cultural and work context in some areas of the country, the rootedness of patriarchal culture and organized crime makes it particularly difficult for women to emerge in leadership roles, thus hindering their contribution to the fight against corruption.
The paper proposes a research among female and male university students on the relationship between women and corruption.