No.in the ocean of possibilities that women can realize, speak still considered the most subversive. It doesn’t matter if they raise their voices. It is with the excuse of too many words that they are silenced. Often it happens in silence, with a letter on stamped paper, without the courage to look them in the eye. Shut up, they would like to say. Sometimes they let it slip away: “You wanted it.” This is how women disappear from debates, from jobs. And that’s how they get paid less, or called “girls” for life and flaunted like trophies. For every gap in rights that women suffer as a result of the habits of a strongly patriarchal society, there is an established framework that justifies it. Fortunately, in the era ofhate speechintersectional feminism (which repudiates any kind of discrimination regardless) and also schwa (the phonetic symbol “ə” used in place of universal masculine plurals to make the language more inclusive) many things are changing.
Millennials and Gen Z are certain: ethics and strong values will change the pattern. Among them, an army of women expresses themselves on the internet willing to weave a network of conscious followers. They are writers, artists, sportsmen, psychologists, activists. We asked them for what special mission they would play the Amazon and why. Get inspired
from Be quiet, the book that Michela Murgia wrote (also) for thembecause his battle of all time – against machismo – should not be wasted, we asked the young social networks: what will they raise their voices for?
“Hunger in Afghanistan does not wait”
Gaia Zorzi, 194 thousand followers, 23 years old. She is passionate about politics which she talks about in Istagram with Cives. You have taken a Masters degree at the United Nations University and live in Brussels
The battle to be voiced now.
There is one of the most serious food crises in the world in Afghanistan. We can’t ignore it: over three million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Your mission.
Fight against discrimination and human rights violations. The Cucchi case, the non-approval of the Zan bill and certain episodes of racism show that even here in Italy on this front there is still a lot to do.
Your strategy.
The important thing is not to turn your head away, not to think that this does not concern us. We must always keep our guard up: it is important to be informed correctly and to have, especially on the internet, places where we can find free information based on fact-checking.
“Mental health must be protected”
Maura Gancitano. Photo: Ilaria Boncompagni
Maura Gancitano, born in 1985, is an editor, philosopher, writer and co-founder of Tlona multimedia project that includes social media, podcasts, a publishing house, a bookstore-theater and philosophical training courses.
The battle to voice now.
Perhaps three are the most urgent: that against poverty (which has increased in recent years, even among young people), that against climate change (a decisive energy transformation is needed) and that for mental health.
Your mission.
I would feel more ready to contribute to mental health, because psycho-physical well-being should be a priority in a society that wants to call itself humanly sustainable.
Your strategy.
I would guarantee all people who cannot afford it access to ongoing psychological therapies, I would eliminate the stigma against mental disorders with awareness and training campaigns aimed at families, schools and all those involved in personal care and services.
“Culture and art return to the center”
Eleonora Montagnana
Eleonora Montagnana, 40 thousand followers, born in 1990, is a violinist, artist and performer and is known in both pop and social media
The battle to voice now.
I close the battle for the solution to all the important issues (bullying, violence against women, homophobia, depression) with a single word: prevention. I would also like to say, as a violinist, that the biggest battle now is to bring attention back to the importance of art and culture in Italy.
Your mission.
In my little one I try to convey values such as respect, listening, commitment, self-acceptance. When some young people take the courage to write to me about their sadness, anxiety and discomfort in relating to their peers, I invite them to talk about it without shame with those closest to them.
Your strategy.
Invest in listening to young people in schools, involving more psychologists and social workers. There should be “friendly” figures, safe havens of listening and trust, who understand dynamics and evils to be treated at the origin with discretion and complicity.
“Give word to those on the margins”
Irene Facheris
Irene Facheris, 85,000 followers, 33, is an intersectional transfeminist activist, writer and podcaster. She is the president of Bossy, a non-profit that deals with equality, discrimination and LGBTQ + rights, she is the training manager of the consulting company Evolveonline.
The battle to voice now. It is now more than ever necessary for feminism to become intersectional in deeds and not just in words. We must realize that if our privileges are not put at the service of those who suffer discrimination in the first person, they become an obstacle for those who do not have them. Your mission. We have to pass the microphone whenever we have the chance, listening to the marginalized categories without speaking for them, but amplifying their message. Your strategy. I like music, but even the best sound system bores me if I always hear the same song. Let’s let them play different words.
“The law on citizenship must be changed”
Bellamy Ogak
Bellamy Ogak, 43,000 followers: cultural curator and social justice advocate. He deals with communication for humanitarian associations and international cooperation. He founded the Afroitalian Souls platform, of Afro-descendant Italians
The battle to be voiced now.
The reform of law 91/1992 on citizenship and the introduction of anti-racist practices in culture, institutions and the media.
Your mission.
The issue of citizenship is more urgent than ever, the law dates back to February 1992, 30 years ago. The second battle concerns the constant de-responsibility of Italians in terms of racism. The tendency to deny, minimize and justify discrimination.
Your strategy.
Citizenship must be managed as a right rather than a merit or a privilege granted for heroic acts or for subjects that one wants to exploit. Then, it is necessary to give concrete consequences to acts of racism. And curricula should be updated to counter the supremacy of Eurocentric or ethnocentric perspectives.
“I fight against body shaming”
Cristina Spagnuolo, aka Kappalicious,
Cristina Spagnuolo, aka Kappalicious, 536 thousand followers on Youtube where she talks about makeup, lifestyle and travel. Born in 1991, she is Instagram manager and wrote the book “To get to me”
The battle to voice now.
Body shaming and self-acceptance in the days of social media, a world where fake perfection is flaunted. Throughout my adolescence I was bullied first face to face, then on social media. Over time I have learned not to give weight to words, but then I think of unaware teenagers.
Your mission.
I would join a campaign that makes girls aware of how much the beauty models proposed by social networks are unreal, created by the virtual manipulation of images, for hedonistic or commercial purposes.
Your strategy.
I found Norway’s decision to make posting of retouched photos illegal without declaration smart. All influencers should use their own definition and influence the audience, but in the correct way, i.e. avoiding post-production.
“Promote sport and a healthy lifestyle”
Debora Spinelli
Debora Spinelli, 48 thousand followers, born in 1985. Digital creator and motivator, she shares her greatest passion: sport, from triathlon to running
The battle to voice now.
Fight against sedentary lifestyle, laziness, against all addictions. Fight against stereotypes: “sports for men and sports for women”, “those who practice sports only look after their physical appearance”, “woman, when you have children your body will fall apart” …
Your mission.
Even today, the concept of a healthy lifestyle is too neglected. Keeping ourselves healthy, cultivating our health every day through healthy choices must be a priority, so that it is possible to maintain a high quality of life over time.
Your strategy.
I carry on these battles every day. But more needs to be done by involving broad-spectrum media and the world of education, students and their families.
“Let psychological education spread”
Elisa Sergi
Elisa Sergi, 17 thousand followers, born in 1983. She talks about psychology and does her sessions only online. You wrote PsicoAgenda 2022, an emotional diary for managing emotions
The battle to voice now.
Mine is focused on promoting a culture aimed at education and training to encourage the mental health of the new generations. Psychophysical well-being is at risk for a thousand reasons. One of these is the internet with its contents, a cross and a delight for each of us.
Your mission.
My main goal is to provide my girls with the necessary resources to make them grow free from self-limiting mental patterns, teaching first and foremost respect for themselves and others.
Your strategy.
It is necessary to train and inform the new generations, on several fronts. Starting right from the base, from kindergarten, and then continuing to adulthood in the workplace. A compulsory training.
Parity passes through language
The cover of Michela Murgia’s book on newsstands with iO Donna from 8 March.
The prejudice towards women is reaffirmed every day by the use we make of the language. Michela Murgia underlines this in her own Shut up that will come sold on newsstands with iO Donna starting from 8 March (at 9.90 euros plus the weekly price).
The pamphlet, already a point of reference for feminist reflection, examines 10 little big clues of the mortifying link that exists between the injustices we live and the words we hear. The debate on the use of women for the prestigious professions – lawyer, mayor, engineer – on the other hand, when the final in a does not raise any eyebrows in those of service – teacher, nurse, janitor. As if the presence of women in certain jobs is badly “digested”. Or remain an exceptional practice, as suggested by preceding a “la” in the surname for women with a public role (Salvini and Meloni). Murgia passes from words to conversation, descending a staircase that leads lower and lower, up to the peremptory “Shut up!”. The wish? That in ten years a boy or a girl reading it may think: luckily no one says these phrases anymore. The book is from 2021, there are 9 years left to translate it into reality. LB Michela Murgia writes it in the pamphlet for sale with iO Donna. Which invites everyone to choose their words well.
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