TIME USE BY GENDER AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE

Italy has no survey that was specifically designed to measure the degr ee of quality of life for the population, although certain other surve ys exist which contribute useful information on the issue. This paper will concentrate on the potential of using existing sample surveys and on initial studies carried out starting from the lime Use survey cond ucted by the National Statistical Institute in 1989. Daily activities are the key factor when analysing a person's quality of life, however, these must also be considered in context. First and foremost this con text is the household, within which each person carries out more or le ss defined roles. The roles covered are, in fact, a crucial variable w hen evaluating each person's quality of life. This angle of obsevation is particularly instructive when seen in terms of developments from a gender standpoint. Interpreting a woman's lifestyle according to the presence of symmeetry of asymmetry of roles, accompanying this analysi s with one covering subjective perception of satisfaction as to daily activities, is an essential approach for determining the real satisfac tion derived from the different aspects of a person's daily life. In a ddition to conventional indicators, newly conceived indicators taking into account the division of roles can be of great help when carrying out this kind of study. In this sense the analysis of individual time use in relation to household time use represents a significant step fo rward when studying quality of life.