Socialismo e femminismo. I giovani socialisti italiani e l’organizzazione dei Gruppi femminili tra Grande guerra e avvento del fascismo (Socialism and feminism. Young Italian socialists and the women’s groups organisation between the Great War and the advent of fascism)

Between the First World War and the difficult post-war situation, faced with the pervasive mobilisation campaign in support of the nation in arms activated by the government, prefects, mayors and institutions (both secular and ecclesiastical), the Italian socialist youth movement became the promoter of a project for the political organisation of proletarian women, aimed at combining women’s demands, the anti-war struggle and the process of integration into the party. The question of the formation of women’s groups, which had always met with strong resistance in the PSI, intercepted the interest of socialist militants and activists. Thus, in the pages of La Difesa delle Lavoratrici and L’Avanguardia (the national organ of the Italian Socialist Youth Federation), a intense debate opened up on a number of issues related to the Querelle des Femmes, such as the emancipation of women within the party, the issue of their political and leadership capacity, and the issue of social and gender equality.