ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the course of the Italian women’s movement since world war II. I explain the significance of the development of autonomous women’s associations during the Italian Resistance and the formation of women’s cultural centers following the turmoil of the workers’ and students’ movements of 1968. Independent women’s groups have had a central role in directing the women’s movement, and that is why they form the basis of my research. It is important to understand the specific conditions in Italy that led to this particular form of women’s activism in order to better understand the regional and philosophical perspectives that characterize a multi-faceted and highly complex feminism. associations make up a key part of Italy’s political process, especially as it pertains to traditionally under-represented groups. Before exploring the development of associations for women immigrants, which will be the focus of Chapter Three, it is useful to be aware of the specific conditions that led to the creation of diversified Italian women’s groups. This will help to clarify their various positions in the women’s movement. It will also provide a foundation for beginning to evaluate the initial contacts between Italian and immigrant women, which will be the focus of the last section of this chapter.
