In a significant move aimed at addressing gender inequality, Dario Franceschini, a senator from the Democratic Party, announced his proposal on March 25, 2025, to legislate that children should inherit only their mother's surname. This initiative is framed as a necessary step toward correcting a long-standing injustice that has historically favored male lineage.
Franceschini made his intentions clear during a meeting of his party's Senate group, asserting that choosing only the mother's surname would simplify the often complicated issues surrounding double surnames, thereby eliminating the historical norm where children automatically received their father's surname. He elaborated, "Instead of creating endless problems with the management of double surnames, after centuries in which children have taken their father's surname, we establish that from the new law they will take only the mother's surname. This is a simple act and also a compensation for a secular injustice that has not only symbolic value but has been a source of cultural and social gender inequalities."
This proposal is not just academic; it arises from a broader examination of Italian names and family identity, especially in light of recent legal rulings. In 2022, the Italian Constitutional Court ruled that the automatic assignment of the father's surname was discriminatory. This ruling opened the door for discussions about revising the existing framework of surname assignment in Italy. Currently, parents can choose their child's surname, but Franceschini's proposal seeks to standardize this process in favor of mothers.
The proposal has ignited a vigorous debate within the Senate. While many view this initiative as a long-overdue reform, others have raised concerns. Gianluca Cantalamessa, a senator from the Lega party, criticized the move in a statement that juxtaposed it against the backdrop of contemporary issues regarding gender and media discourse. He remarked, "While Prodi mistreats a journalist receiving the obscene defense of the PD, Franceschini thinks he can defend women by giving children the mother's surname." His comments reflect a wider skepticism about the effectiveness of legislative changes in profoundly altering societal views on gender.
Anna Rossomando, a prominent member of the Democratic Party and vice president of the Senate, welcomed Franceschini's proposal as a breakthrough. She stated, "Today finally a male voice has acknowledged that for centuries there has been a sort of invisibility of women, with the assignment of only the father's surname." This perspective underscores the importance of recognizing historical trends that have marginalized women’s identities in familial and societal contexts.
Franceschini's proposal, while still in its early stages as a draft bill, represents a significant shift in the thinking around family names in Italy. He emphasizes the need for legislative clarity in the naming process and seeks to prevent future generations from facing the complexities that have arisen from the current ambiguous norms.
This initiative is expected to move forward in the legislative process, joining other proposals currently under consideration by the Justice Committee of the Senate. Among these are additional texts aimed at addressing the complexities of surname assignment post the Constitutional Court ruling.
The discussions surrounding Franceschini's bill tap into fundamental issues of identity and equality, suggesting that by radically changing the norms around names, Italian society may confront deeper philosophical questions about family and gender roles. Advocates for the change argue that it is high time to dismantle patriarchal structures embedded in naming conventions, while skeptics raise questions about the practical implications of such a shift.
The upcoming legislative sessions promise to be lively, as the conversation around this topic not only reflects the current zeitgeist but also structures the future landscape of family identity in Italy. Whether this proposed law will pass and usher in a new era where maternal lineage is recognized legally remains to be seen.
