This book explores and traces the progressive activism and radical ideas of several elite women in Italy beginning in the early 20th century. It discusses the shared political culture that shaped the thinking and the activity of these women, mainly oriented towards political philanthropy and work, seen as the cornerstone of a comprehensive redefinition of gender relations. It also discusses the connections linking them to an international network of women involved in similar political actions and economic initiatives addressing women’s' interests, as well as their legacy for the next generations.
With essays from a range of scholars, this book provides an interdisciplinary framework for understanding these activists and deals with methodological and historiographical issues in reconstructing women’s contribution to history.
Author(s): Elena Laurenzi, Manuela Mosca (editors)
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 261
City: Cham
Contents
Notes on Contributors
1 The Political Philanthropy of the Female Elites
1.1 Female Activist Elites
1.2 The International Network: A New Methodological Approach
1.3 The Legacy
1.4 Political Philanthropy
1.5 The Italian Female Industries
1.6 Practical Feminism
1.7 The Contributions
1.8 Our Aims
References
Part I A Women’s Network in Early 20th Century Italy
2 Harriet Lathrop Dunham alias Etta de Viti de Marco
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Origins
2.3 Antonio de Viti de Marco
2.4 The Marriage
2.5 Culture and Patronage
2.6 Social Commitment and Philanthropy
2.7 The Mobilisation of the Liberals
2.8 Democracy, Free Trade and Civil Progress
2.9 After the Great War
2.10 Conclusion
References
3 Alice Hallgarten Franchetti: A Woman Beyond Barriers
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Family History
3.3 Life with Leopoldo Franchetti
3.4 Social Welfare Activities
3.5 Traditional Female Works Between Weaving, Embroidery and Emancipation
3.6 Promotion of Canvases and Laces
3.7 The Franchetti Vocational School for Women
3.8 The Franchetti Schools
3.9 Conclusion
References
4 Cora Slocomb Savorgnan di Brazzà: An Artisan of Peace and Social Justice
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Lace Schools
4.3 Business and Marketing
4.4 Multiple Groundbreaking Activities
4.5 Seven Rules of Harmony
4.6 Against the Death Penalty
4.7 The Flag of Peace
4.8 Conclusion
Appendix: Timeline of the life of Cora Slocomb Savorgnan di Brazzà
References
Part II From Generation to Generation: A Case Study
5 Harriet Luthrop Dunham and Carolina de Viti de Marco: Emancipation Through Lacemaking
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The Political Philanthropy of Etta de Viti de Marco
5.3 The Italian Female Industries
5.4 Carolina de Viti de Marco: Freedom Gained
5.5 The Casamassella School: A Groundbreaking Project
5.6 A Modern Approach to Women’s Professional Training
References
6 The Second Generation: The Transmission of the Philosophy of Work and Assistance
6.1 Introduction
6.2 From Casamassella to Koppies. The Internationalisation of a Model
6.3 Giulia Starace’s Welfare Work and Its Sources in Catholic Modernism
6.4 The Steiner Community of Lucia de Viti de Marco
6.5 Giulia and Lucia’s Project: A Utopian Passion
References
7 The Present-Day Heritage
7.1 Introduction
7.2 From Past to Present
7.3 The Living Space of a Community
7.4 Reflections on What Is Transmitted
References
Part III Arts, Politics and Transmission: Methodological and Historiographical Considerations
8 The Signs of an Art
8.1 ‘Good Work’ and the Art of Democratic Happiness
8.2 A New Art
8.3 Tracing the Signs of a Defeated Art
8.4 The Signs of Political Work: The Art of Composing a Life
8.5 Popular Art, Socialist Art, Arts and Crafts
8.6 A Landscape as a Finely Woven Lace
References
9 Female Biographies and Family History: An Approach to Social and Political History
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Individuals and Citizens: The Contribution of Family History and Biography to Women’s Political History
9.3 Backwardness/Development, Tradition/Modernity: Philanthropy and the Origin of the Welfare State
9.4 History and Memory
References
10 A Feminine and Feminist Story of Transmission
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Reflections on Exclusion from the Canon
10.2.1 Non-Existence or a Lack of Tradition?
10.2.2 The Introduction of Women as an Anomaly or Exception
10.2.3 Introducing the Difference
10.2.4 Let Them Be
10.3 Reflections on the Clues of Female Experiences
10.3.1 Recording an Awareness of One’s Own Place and Value: Granting Authority
10.3.2 The Evidential Paradigm: Making Sense
10.4 Reflections Based on the Idea of a Hidden Tradition
10.4.1 A Female Tradition?
10.4.2 The Given Tradition and the Reappropriated Tradition
10.4.3 A Tradition to Be Created or Reconstructed?
References
Index
