Table 1.

Coding process.

Codes	Categories	Macro Categories
Awareness of the existence of inequality between men and women; Smaller gap between men and women today; Tendency to underestimate sexist behavior; Low awareness of the women’s rights movements; Backward socio-cultural context; Confusion/overlap between gender-related issues and issues related to gender identity; Differences in male behavior depending on the socio-cultural context; Generational differences: older adults are more sexist; Having experienced catcalling; Having witnessed gender-based violence; No perceived experience of discrimination.	Evolution of perceptions and experiences regarding gender inequality	Past, present, and future of sexism
Group strategies do not work because men always have to prove something; Total change seen as impossible; School education that leads to the free expression of oneself; School education that leads to the development of critical thinking; Disagreement over changes to the Italian language for gender inclusion; Resolution strategy: individual paths based on communication and information; Resolution strategy: not letting the judgment of others influence oneself; Resolution strategy: increase equality; Resolution strategy: intervene in schools, starting from early childhood; Resolution strategy: awareness campaigns based on empathy (’putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’); Resolution strategies: for older adults (parents-grandparents), there is no hope; Resolution strategy: young people must carry forward new values; Resolution strategy: discussion with friends and family; Resolution strategy: increase equity; Resolution strategy: intervene in schools, starting from early childhood; Resolution strategy: values need to be replaced, as our generation no longer identifies with them; Resolution strategy: raise awareness through demonstrations; Resolution strategy: awareness campaigns based on empathy (’putting yourself in someone else’s shoes’); Resolution strategy: new family education on gender roles.	Proposed solutions to solve gender inequality and sexism
Gender-based differences in the treatment of children; ‘Short hair is not for girls’; Sexism in the family experienced as a norm, Sexist roles carried on due to cultural tradition, ‘You’re a girl, you should enhance yourself’; Equal responsibility in child-rearing, ‘You’re a woman, so you have to clear the table’; Boys have more freedom to express themselves, ‘You’re a girl, why do you need to drive?’; Men ‘help’ with household chores, Not being able to stay out late or go home alone (without a man), Family’s closed-mindedness about sexuality, Unhealthy communication between father and daughter, No family influence on the mentality of the children, Family influence on the mentality of the children; Household chores are reserved for women.	Gender issue in family	Sexism in microsystems
Teacher’s attitude is different for boys and girls; Teacher more aggressive with girls; Teacher kinder to girls; No gender-differentiated treatment by teachers; Simplified physical tests for girls; Teacher’s perception of boys’ likely interest in gender issues; Difficulty in addressing sexuality in school; Teacher training on sexuality topics; Male teachers’ preference based on the appearance of girls, Lack of opportunities to discuss the topic at school; Teachers’ indifference to the topic, Influence of school on students’ mentality.	Gender issues at school
Women’s caregiving role in the workplace; Most jobs for women are part-time; Dividing household tasks based on the importance of the job (not gender); Women discriminated against in predominantly male fields, Women discriminated against in the workplace; ‘Women are more attentive at work’.	Gender issues at work
Men feel obligated to pay the bill, The idea of women as needing protection; Women expect men to pay the bill (at least the first time); Protecting can be seen as chivalry; Men are physically stronger than women; Men and women are different but complementary; Boys avoid discussing certain topics in front of girls.	Benevolent sexism	Forms of sexism
Some sports (soccer, basketball) are more suitable for boys; Very explicit social media content regarding the female body; Influencers serving as female role models to compare with; On social media, women’s bodies are used as objects; Stereotype of boys on social media with defined physiques; Women are better at enduring pain than men; A woman’s attitude can affect the likelihood of being harassed; Women don’t know how to drive; The image of women as lazy; Disparities in the Italian language: some feminine words become insults; Women either work or have children.	Hostile sexism
Women who post photos in which they are less dressed are judged (especially by other women); Women can be sexist too; Women exaggerate their work-related problem; Women judge the sexual behavior of other women; I won’t have children because I want to become a doctor; Men should help women; “If I had had a daughter, I would never have advised her to follow my educational and career path”; Women are more self-centered than men.	Internalized sexism
Difficulty going out with a male friend without others judging; Sexist behaviors ‘hurt’ girls; Walking alone in the evening is dangerous; Feeling safe in the street at night when in a group, not necessarily with a man; Women often feel judged for how they dress or do their makeup; Indifference as a defensive reaction to street approaches; Being approached by boys on the street can sometimes be scary; Experiencing sexism lowers self-esteem; Being treated as weak can make one feel weak; Conforming due to judgment; Being discriminated against makes one more indifferent, Internalization of stereotypes as a consequence of discrimination; Dropping out as a consequence of discrimination.	Consequences of sexism for women	Consequences of sexism
Men forced to fit into traditional stereotypes; Men cannot cry, Men must demonstrate their strength and worth; Some males suffer because they are not allowed to show vulnerability; A man who cannot start a fire is looked down upon.	Consequences of sexism for men
Chivalry is a mask for sexism; ‘I don’t want to be a kept woman’, Family upbringing towards independence, Influencers as symbols of female entrepreneurship; Desire for independence; Equity can increase sexism; Some women can and want to succeed on their own; Feminist struggles should be aimed at not being inferior to men, but not to be superior to them; Work makes women independent; The role of motherhood should not be privileged.	Female empowerment