On the eve of International womens day on 8 March, Eurisko, an independent market and social research institute, has released a survey on how the values and desires of women in Italy have changed over the past ten years.

More than 5,000 women were asked the same question every year for ten years What would you most like to have or achieve?. The results show a change in attitudes; women in Italy want to do and have more than they did ten years ago.

More women considered good health as being important (from 39 per cent in 1996 to 49 per cent in 2005). The desire for a secure job rose (from 52 per cent in 1996 to 56 per cent in 2005) and the importance of professional success rose by 3 per cent (from 79 per cent to 82 per cent) in ten years. At the same time, women want to spend more time with their friends and partners (52.5 to 56 per cent), travel more ( 53 to 57 per cent) and more of them want to have children (40 to 44 per cent).

Rosanna Savoldelli, the sociologist who conducted the survey concludes that Italian women are learning to look after themselves better, both physically and financially. Today they want to be intelligent and attractive, emancipated and maternal, affectionate and strong. Women are good at multi-tasking.