Thursday 23 March 2023, 5.30 pm
Italian Cultural Institute in Edinburgh, 82 Nicolson St, Edinburgh, EH8 9EW
Special Event for Women’s History Month 2023 organised by the Association for the Study of Modern Italy in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Edinburgh.
The Genealogies of March 8th: the Political and Ritual Dimensions of International Women’s Day in Italy
Prof Alessandra Gissi (Napoli “L’Orientale”)
In 1910, Clara Zetkin put forward a proposal for a special day to celebrate women – International Women’s Day. In Italy, initially the idea faced a hostile reception, mainly due to the scepticism of the Socialist Party about women’s suffrage. From the post-war years onwards, however, this was to become an important annual event, marked by demonstrations of various kinds, public debates, articles in the press and media, and the giving of mimosa flowers.
In her talk, through an analysis of the debates and rituals associated with the Day, Alessandra Gissi will explore the origins and history of the Italian celebrations of Otto marzo, highlighting how both real events and imagined myths contributed to the creation of a shared memory.
Chaired by Perry Willson, Professor of Modern European History, University of Dundee
Alessandra Gissi is Associate Professor in Contemporary History at the Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”. She has published widely on C19th and C20th women’s and gender history. Her many publications include: Le segrete manovre delle donne. Levatrici in Italia dall’Unità al Fascismo (2006, 2nd ed. 2022) and Otto marzo. La giornata internazionale delle donne in Italia, (2010)
For enquiries, please contact Dr Patrizia Sambuco (psambuco001@dundee.ac.uk)
