Women's Role In Fascist Ideology

The period of years 1918-1945 in Europe is characterised by a huge depression of economy, falling of birth rates as well as series of political riots. Fascist movement was formed as a result of political instability so apparent after the World War I. Perhaps the most well-known fascist dictatorships were those in Italy and Germany. Fascism gained its popularity among authoritarian social systems and was further promoted by varied social interests. It is difficult to say whether all fascist states stood the same values, however, family, nation and race were the key elements of fascist ideology. The leaders of fascist states spread the beliefs of master race and the patriarchal system within the family, economy and state. They wanted to re-establish

For this reason, this essay is focused primarily on women and their role of being a “mother of the nation. “ They had to face a number of obstacles either in Germany or in Italy. This essay tries to compare the most distinctive policies in these two states. Even though these countries share a couple of similarities, there can be found deep differences between them as well. These are mainly seen in their contrasting perceptions of human nature. The Germans were focusing on carrying a broad population policy in order to increase a rate of birth of the group of people who possessed a high racial quality. For them human nature was inevitably connected to an approach of race. An Aryan race was simply given to individuals and could not be converted into something else. All the human population, civilization and science were demonstrated as successes of the “culture-bearing” Aryan race. Hitler considered a conformity towards the laws of race would help to renew the German race and nation. Developing the quality

By means of propaganda and several welfare measures, the Italian regime wanted to “nationalise” its women rather than to sterilize and kill masses of them. In fascist terms, the most crucial responsibility of women in relation to nation was rooted in making kids. Most importantly, motherhood no longer was that special symbol of mother´s love to her new-born baby. Maternity has become just the physical act of making children. The role of woman as a creator of new people was described in every single aspect of her social existence. Mussolini´s main aim was to increase the population of Italy from 40 million people to 60 million by fifty years. The demographic activities of fascist Italy were concentrated on marriage, production of children in order to increase birth rate, so large families were highly supported. The government often tried to motivate people to have more children by means of different interventions. Bachelors and childless couples were fined for not following the conditions of population policy. In contrast, large families were given a plenty of benefits such as free school books for their children. To undergo an abortion or get contraceptives became extremely difficult. Even the advertising of contraceptives was strongly prohibited. In its marriage policy, Italy was inspired by marriage loans which were firstly introduced in Nazi Germany. The introduction of