«Giorgia Meloni is not the classic woman who needed a man to emergehe didn’t need Pygmalions.” The president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa, speaks, guest of Avanti Popolo, on Rai 3. She speaks and says nothing surprising or new. But precisely for this reason it is worth reflecting on the state of things once again.
La Russa: «Giorgia Meloni is not the classic woman who emerges thanks to a man»
So who is the “classic Italian woman”? That dshe «cool motherhood» (Lavinia Mennuni), that if “he has had two children he has already made a great contribution to the country” (Giorgia Meloni)? Or that she only enters politics by recommendation, as the young communist deputy said Teresa Mattei way back in 1946? He told how when entering Parliament the question for every woman was the same: “Who did you sleep with? to earn that place?”.
Sexism in politics, from Nilde Iotti to today
This and other sexist anecdotes were collected by the journalist Filippo Maria Battaglia in an essay, Shut up and go to the kitchen – a brief history of chauvinism in politics from Togliatti to Grillo (Bollati Boringhieri, 2015). There’s something for everyone, from Nilde Iotti (“He must have written it for you” was the typical comment after each of his speeches in the Chamber) to today.
The President of the Senate therefore photographs a real situation, a prejudice on which our Republic is based. And doubt certainly arises regarding the percentage of cases in which a powerful man had a hand in it. Even just favoring a woman because of her appearance.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rises to Forbes’ ranking of the most influential women (Photo by Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)
Women in politics and exceptions like Giorgia Meloni
La Russa’s thoughts on equality had already emerged during an interview with Beasts exactly one year ago. After admitting that «The aesthetic level of women in the center-right has decreased, their quality and ability has increased», the President of the Chamber, in his own feminist version, ruled. «Equality in politics will be achieved when a fat, ugly and stupid woman holds an important office. Because there are fat, ugly and stupid men who hold important roles.” Here: we are far away.
Today the system is patriarchal: it foresees that it can be considered Melons only as an exception. And if the exceptions, in all sectors of society, are fewer and fewer exceptions, for all the others some “classical” reason applies.
Stereotypes to break down
There are many, too many stereotypes that women have found themselves and find themselves facing. Melons first and foremost, which «she has to think about being a mother», as Guido Bertolaso told her during the race for mayor of Rome in 2016. She replied: women reconcile work and motherhood even in much more difficult situations than mine.
Stereotypes which are also part of Meloni’s own worldview if, as new prime minister, she chose to precede the formal title of “President of the Council” with the masculine article “il”, rather than the feminine “la”. I am a woman, mother, Italian and Christian, but also a bit of a man, because I made it on my own.
Physical appearance and femininity
Among the constants of history, the constant reference to physical appearance. From Fanfani who in the 1980s signed a regulation on sobriety standards for parliamentarians and officials to the insults he had to suffer Rosy Bindi (from «she’s not even a woman», Storace, 2005, to «she’s never had problems living with true love», Grillo, 2012). But you have also heard many Laura Boldrini“furnishing object of power” as Beppe Grillo said.
Filippo Maria Battaglia’s book is a sample of a vision of the world. Even more evident when those who express it think they are promoting women. Like the President of the Republic Giovanni Leone (1908-2001) who did not exclude in principle that a woman could wear the toga, but only for the «qualities that derive from her femininity and her sensitivity». And so yes to the “classic woman” in the Juvenile Court but, please, don’t ask for more.
From Silvio Berlusconi (“I suggest you marry one of my sons”) to the M5S deputy Massimo De Rosa (“You are only here because you are good at doing p….”), the story is long. And, unfortunately, it continues.
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED