RITA LEVI-MONTALCINI
Thirty Years have passed since the famed Italian neurobiologist, Rita Levi-Montalcini, was awarded the Nobel Prize of Medicine or Physiology. Her outstanding career in the field of neuroscience was an example for all scientists and researchers, but moreover, her life was an example for all of mankind. This remarkable woman endured a staggering amount of obstacles in order to become a doctor, and a scientist. She prevailed above them, and lived a life of success, wisdom and principle. We wish to honor her achievements and reflect upon her awe-inspiring life.
In 1986, Italian neurobiologist Rita Levi-Montalcini was awarded the Nobel Prize of Medicine or Physiology alongside biochemist Stanley Cohen, for their discovery of nerve growth factors. She was the fourth woman to ever receive a Nobel prize. Her life and work are an example of science, humanism, selflessness and perseverance, in spite of the many difficulties she had to endure. Her life, very highly regarded amongst scientists, also stands as an example of a fair and just woman, who fought many years for gender equity, and overall dignity of mankind.
Her father Adamo Levi, an electrical engineer, discouraged her from pursuing college and post graduate studies, for it was very unusual in that time for a woman to aspire formal higher education which could distract them form their housekeeping tasks.
Her father Adamo Levi, an electrical engineer, discouraged her from pursuing college and post graduate studies, for it was very unusual in that time for a woman to aspire formal higher education which could distract them form their housekeeping tasks.
ANNA MARIA MOZZONI
Anna Maria Mozzoni (5 May 1837 – 14 June 1920) was born in Rescaldina in 1837. Regarded by many as a feminist much of her adult life, she is known as the founder of the woman's movement in Italy. One of the roles she is most known for is her pivotal involvement in gaining woman's suffrage in Italy.
Early in her career Mozzoni embraced the utopian socialism of Charles Fourier. She later defended the poor and championed women's equality, arguing that women needed to enter the workplace to develop the female personality outside of the "monarcato patriarcale" (patriarchal family). In 1864 she wrote Woman and her social relationships on the occasion of the revision of the Italian Civil Code (La donna e i suoi rapporti sociali in occasione della revisione del codice italiano), a feminist critique of Italian family law. In 1877 Mozzoni presented a petition to parliament for woman suffrage. In 1878 Mozzoni represented Italy at the International Congress on Women's Rights in Paris. In 1879 she published her translation from English into Italian of The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill. In 1881 Mozzoni joined with other republicans, radicals, and socialists in a call for universal suffrage, including woman suffrage. In 1881 she also founded the League for the Promotion of the Interests of Women (Lega promotrice degli interessi femminili) in Milan to promote a variety of causes of interest to women.
Early in her career Mozzoni embraced the utopian socialism of Charles Fourier. She later defended the poor and championed women's equality, arguing that women needed to enter the workplace to develop the female personality outside of the "monarcato patriarcale" (patriarchal family). In 1864 she wrote Woman and her social relationships on the occasion of the revision of the Italian Civil Code (La donna e i suoi rapporti sociali in occasione della revisione del codice italiano), a feminist critique of Italian family law. In 1877 Mozzoni presented a petition to parliament for woman suffrage. In 1878 Mozzoni represented Italy at the International Congress on Women's Rights in Paris. In 1879 she published her translation from English into Italian of The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill. In 1881 Mozzoni joined with other republicans, radicals, and socialists in a call for universal suffrage, including woman suffrage. In 1881 she also founded the League for the Promotion of the Interests of Women (Lega promotrice degli interessi femminili) in Milan to promote a variety of causes of interest to women.
ELENA CORNARO PISCOPIA
Elena Cornaro Piscopia, the world's first women to get a university degree.
Every woman who's studied at university owes something to Piscopia. The Venetian noblewoman became the first woman in the world to get an academic university degree, with her PhD in philosophy.
Her philosophy tutor, impressed by her aptitude, had at first tried to persuade the University of Padua to give Piscopia a degree in theology - but they refused, because she was a woman and theology was seen as a uniquely male domain. As a compromise, she was allowed to study for a philosophy degree and graduated in 1678, after a ceremony in which she explained some of the most difficult passages of Aristotle - all in Classical Latin, of course.
Not content with academic success alone, Piscopia was also an accomplished musician who mastered the harpsichord, harp and violin, and composed songs in her spare time. And her nickname was Oraculum Septilingue (the septilingual oracle) because she was fluent in seven languages: Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
Every woman who's studied at university owes something to Piscopia. The Venetian noblewoman became the first woman in the world to get an academic university degree, with her PhD in philosophy.
Her philosophy tutor, impressed by her aptitude, had at first tried to persuade the University of Padua to give Piscopia a degree in theology - but they refused, because she was a woman and theology was seen as a uniquely male domain. As a compromise, she was allowed to study for a philosophy degree and graduated in 1678, after a ceremony in which she explained some of the most difficult passages of Aristotle - all in Classical Latin, of course.
Not content with academic success alone, Piscopia was also an accomplished musician who mastered the harpsichord, harp and violin, and composed songs in her spare time. And her nickname was Oraculum Septilingue (the septilingual oracle) because she was fluent in seven languages: Italian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
TINA ANSELMI
Politician and Italy's first female cabinet minister. Born in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, in 1927.Elected to the Italian Parliament in 1968, Tina Anselmi became Italy's first woman cabinet minister when she was appointed minister of labor, 1976–78, and then minister of health, 1978–79. Her career in politics began at the age of 16, during the Second World War, when she worked with the Cesare Battista Brigade in the Resistance movement, for which she later received the military cross for valor. Joining the Christian Democratic Party in 1944, she was head of the local textile trade union from 1945 to 1948, and then local party representative. As party spokeswoman on youth (1960–68) and national women's representative, she concentrated her efforts on industrial relations, family issues, and the status of women. She became vice president of the European Feminist Union in 1966.
Franca Viola
Franca Viola, the rape survivor who campaigned for a change in the law.
Franca Viola became known as a symbol for female emancipation in post-war Italy, when she appealed to prosecute her rapist. Remember how Artemisia Gentileschi was encouraged to marry her rapist as a form of 'redemption'? Sadly, not much had changed in Italian law in that respect: rape was still considered as a crime against 'public morality' rather than against the victim, according to Italy's criminal code, and the article which said that rapists could be acquitted if they married their victims wasn't scrapped until 1981.
Back to Viola. She grew up in a small town in Sicily, where she attracted the attention of a local mafioso. Despite her rebuffing his advances, in 1965 the man - together with a group of friends - kidnapped 18-year-old Viola and her young brother, and repeatedly raped her. After she was released, thanks to a covert operation her father coordinated with local police, the rapist offered Viola a so-called 'marriage of rehabilitation'. She refused, an action which went against perceived moral codes so that her father received death threats and the entire family were threatened, even having their vineyard and cottage burned to the ground. Viola and her family appealed the law and pushed for the rapist to be prosecuted. It was a landmark trial in which they were eventually successful, with the perpetrator jailed for 11 years, paving the way for changes in Italian law and the way society viewed sufferers of rape and domestic violence. However, she has refused to accept her status as a feminist icon, instead saying she simply did what she felt she had to, and listened to her heart.
She still lives in the same village with her husband, and has two sons, and exactly two years ago today, she was awarded Italy's highest honour, the Order of Merit, as a mark of recognition for her role in improving the status of women in Italy.
Franca Viola became known as a symbol for female emancipation in post-war Italy, when she appealed to prosecute her rapist. Remember how Artemisia Gentileschi was encouraged to marry her rapist as a form of 'redemption'? Sadly, not much had changed in Italian law in that respect: rape was still considered as a crime against 'public morality' rather than against the victim, according to Italy's criminal code, and the article which said that rapists could be acquitted if they married their victims wasn't scrapped until 1981.
Back to Viola. She grew up in a small town in Sicily, where she attracted the attention of a local mafioso. Despite her rebuffing his advances, in 1965 the man - together with a group of friends - kidnapped 18-year-old Viola and her young brother, and repeatedly raped her. After she was released, thanks to a covert operation her father coordinated with local police, the rapist offered Viola a so-called 'marriage of rehabilitation'. She refused, an action which went against perceived moral codes so that her father received death threats and the entire family were threatened, even having their vineyard and cottage burned to the ground. Viola and her family appealed the law and pushed for the rapist to be prosecuted. It was a landmark trial in which they were eventually successful, with the perpetrator jailed for 11 years, paving the way for changes in Italian law and the way society viewed sufferers of rape and domestic violence. However, she has refused to accept her status as a feminist icon, instead saying she simply did what she felt she had to, and listened to her heart.
She still lives in the same village with her husband, and has two sons, and exactly two years ago today, she was awarded Italy's highest honour, the Order of Merit, as a mark of recognition for her role in improving the status of women in Italy.