The value of diversity: Women’s Strategic Role in the Renaissance of Left-behind Areas in Italy

Starting from the theoretical and research findings developed within the Horizon Europe Re-Place Project, this paper analyses the specificity of female migratory pathways in left-behind areas. It emphasizes the importance of a gender-sensitive perspective in restoring a “sense of place” in regions often overlooked by public policies. Focusing on national and international mobility dynamics in specific Italian areas—especially in the post-pandemic context—the research highlights women as central protagonists. While affective and subjective dimensions shape all migratory pathways, female mobility presents a particular complexity where intimate motivations are deeply intertwined with economic and systemic factors. This complexity is compounded by the systemic disadvantages and exclusions faced by women—issues that have worsened since the pandemic, despite a recovery in mobility. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the study combines extensive data from leading re-search with key players and individuals. Through in-depth interviews, it investigates how gen-der functions as a social structure and examines both the amplification of inequalities and the emergence of potential paradigm shifts. Particular attention is given to how women’s trans-formative roles in small municipalities foster plural, community-oriented contexts, combat gender gaps, and contribute to territorial regeneration.