Gender Gaps in Social Capital: a theoretical interpretation of evidence from Italy

This study uses the Italian data from the Multiscopo surveys of 1997 and 2011
to assess differences in life-cycle accumulation of social capital by sex and age.
First, the study identifies some crucial aspects regarding the definition and
measurement of social capital: individual versus collective dimension, different
typologies of social capital, and the fact that the literature often deals with
women in social capital but seldom with gender. Second, using a regression
analysis with cross-sectional data, it shows that social capital accumulation along
the life cycle is different for men and women, with men accumulating more
social capital at all ages, with a different peak and overall profile. The study also
shows that, over fifteen years, the gap in social capital by sex narrowed. Finally,
it introduces a model of social capital structure compatible with the empirical
evidence and with notions of gender as defined in feminist literature.