A study of the dramatic shifts in social, political and economic roles of Italian women in the 20th century, beginning with Aleramo’s famous autobiographical novel, A Woman (1906). Includes the complex treatment of women under fascism; representations of women as wives and mothers; women in the workforce; women’s political victories (suffrage and divorce); personal and social struggles for sexual self-determination; the place of Italian women writers in the canon. Amongst the readings: Sibilla Aleramo, Maria Messina, Dacia Maraini, Alba De Céspedes. Lectures, discussions, readings, films and papers in English. Italian majors and minors may select to do readings and papers in Italian.

Tommasina Gabriele