Mussolini Role Of Women

During the 20th century, the role of women changed dramatically and continued to develop. Men fighting in the war and Italy shifting from an agricultural to industrial society were mainly responsible for this adjustment. They were identified as more than a tool for procreation and maintaining a household. For the first time, women were granted with the right to vote (De Grand, 1976, p. 948) . Their active involvement increased in democracy and industry jobs. However, once Mussolini and the Fascist regime came to power, the setting changed again. Once again, women returned to experiencing poor treatment outside and inside the home. A variety of legislation was passed to enforced feelings of helplessness and reflect their old treatment. With

Women in a fascist society were characterized to be submissive women but strong, disciplinary mothers. This role was extremely emphasized to younger girls attending school. Mussolini painted the ‘ideal woman’ as one following the traditional values raising a family, happily procreating. The value of family was a main aspect of the female’s role in society. This was mainly due the influence subsequently following Mussolini mending ties between Italy and the Papacy State. He relayed the importance of the Church’s teachings on a variety of issues (Chokova, 2013). Instead of associating motherhood with nurturing principles coinciding with love, care, and leadership, it was associated with primarily procreating. This outlined their social position and rights were determined to implement these ‘newly’ defined roles by implementing various policies. Mussolini awarded women and families for procreation through incentives such as provisions, loans given towards births and marriages, maternity insurance, and organizing specific departments to handle infant and family health. Abortion, prostitution, public breastfeeding and other rules that suppressed the sexuality of women were put in place by all authorities. Women soon found themselves struggling to keep control over their own bodies. Mothers of all Italian classes were forced to feel incompetent, dependent on the matriarch, and uneasy. Their gender roles were further reinforced by the ‘ideal’ pictorial image Mussolini advertised. The slim, chic modern woman was condemned in fascist propaganda. Instead, they were replaced with women who were rounded, and wore maternal, conservative