A Mind of Her Own: Feminism and Literature in Milan
A research study and interview about the history of how Milanese women used literature in their fight for equality
Sarah Sinelli, Abigail Miller, Teegan Teal, Aaron Rippin
Reproductive rights, equal pay, sexual freedom, and opportunity. Women’s rights encapsulate the idea that gender does not hold power over intelligence, ability, and position. All around the world, there is a visible or underlying struggle for these rights. There are differences in how women react to unequal treatment based on the geographical, economic, and political standings of their country.
This idea is especially true in the city of Milan. Women have been and continue to use their voices as writers and publishers in order to cultivate new expectations from society and define their standards for equality.
Milanese women have used literature as a prominent tool in their fight for equality. Past authors and literary figures like Carla Lonzi, Luisa Muraro, and Lea Melandri as well as current ones such as Elena Ferrante and Veronica Raimo have created a space for women to write and speak about feminist and female topics in a public setting. Through movements, revolts, and opening female-dedicated bookshops and spaces, Milanese women have made great strides toward equality.
Renata Dionigi, a bookseller at Libreria Delle Donne, a library in Milan that transformed the feminist movement, talked us through the feminist movement and the role that the library played and continues to play today. First, however, it is crucial to know how feminist writers and literature began and made their mark in Milan, Italy.
Referencing Andrea Hajek in her article titled, “A Room of One’s Own. Feminist Intersections between Space, Women’s Writing and Radical Bookselling in Milan (1968–1986),” the rise and development of feminism in Milan can, in part, be accredited to novels, poems, and other creations written and published by women.
Strong Milanese, feminist literature has its beginnings in the 1960s. Milan in the 1960s, was going through a set of educational reforms. These reforms, in general, led to an increase in the student body, however, failed to make changes to staff and frameworks necessary for the betterment of students’ learning. In addition, the sudden increase in graduates was not supported by the Italian, and specifically Milanese, workforce, thus leaving many recent graduates jobless.
This, in turn, led to unrest among young people and older generations alike. While the protests arose from the education reforms, citizens quickly began diving into other areas of concern, such as housing and town planning. This series of revolts and protests aimed at Milanese policymakers and government officials lasted from 1968–1977 and came to be known as the “liberated time.” This time introduced a Milanese counterculture, one with lively underground scenes, emphasized leisure time for socialization, and diverse perspectives.
Then came the counterculture magazines and “radical” bookstores. A prominent stepping-stone for the rise of feminism. The main focus of radical magazines and books throughout this time was anti-authoritarianism. And while women were writing for journals for the first time, their voices still remained largely unheard and unimportant in the general public. Finally, many female writers decided to leave their previous writing positions in hopes to make deeper changes for feminism elsewhere.
While the “liberated time” came to a close, feminists were only finding their beginnings.
The rise of cross-cultural and international communication played a large part for feminists in Milan. Books and journals written about female bodies and sexual ideals led to the rise of women-only spaces and transferred the feminist conversation from a private sphere to a public one.
During what was considered the second wave of feminism, Rivolta Femminile paved the way for female groups and individuals to write and publish. Rivolta Femminile was unique, however, from other feminist publications of the time. It strayed from ideas of equality and freedom and rather stressed self-awareness and recognition. It was led by Carla Lonzi, who soon would become a prominent woman in the feminist struggle.
This, then, led women to adopt a new term and way of thinking; autocoscienza. In short, this referred to the act of consciousness-raising and increasing self-awareness in a space that allowed women to think and act freely.
Wanting to expand on the idea of a separatist space for Milanese women to express themselves, feminists wished to transform these spaces, originally in homes and hidden from the general population, to public and open. And in the mid-1970 the Libreria Delle Donne opened its doors in a very public space, right behind the Duomo.
The Libreria delle Donne was a key contributor to the feminist movement. While it was a bookstore, it also served as a place for women to meet, discuss, and learn. More than anything, though, it allowed women to have a safe space in a place without male domination and gave them the freedom to share opinions and ideas. With this newfound freedom, the feminist movement only gained traction and began to flourish.
The Libreria delle Donne is still a functioning bookstore to date in fact. Wanting to learn more about the library, its history, and its importance towards feminism in Milan now, we went to Libreria delle Donne and spoke with one of the booksellers.
Renata Dionigi has worked at Libreria delle Donne for about forty years and was around during its beginnings. One can clearly see that she loves her job as a bookseller and is passionate about encouraging female publications and discussions on prominent feminist topics.
She talked about its opening in 1975. Sitting right behind the Duomo, the library quickly made its mark in the feminist movement. Being the only library of its kind, publishing and selling only women’s works, the library sought to “focus on products of women’s thought, which had been underrated and even censured by culture and by society” (Libreria delle Donne. A Ongoing Story, 4).
The library began with just twelve women who searched for female writers and publications and Dionigi described that they “wanted to have a place on their own and give the opportunity for other women to meet.”
Now, there are eighty women who work at the library doing various tasks such as bookselling, holding meetings and discussions, and expanding their work to the Internet. She explained, “It begins with twelve women, now we are about eighty… twenty of us work in the bookshop… a little group speaks about the internet, and another group is interested in the circle.” She showed us around the library and pointed out the kitchen, dining area, and the couches, chairs, and small coffee table that make up the discussion area.
She told us that “Every Saturday there is a program where we speak about some problems, some topics.” Preceding to hand us a document with information on what topics and events would be held in the upcoming month, she told us that this past week they talked about female liberation and it was a great and moving conversation. These conversations not only include the eighty women who work at the library, but also other interested men and women.
Unfortunately, the Libreria delle Donne had to change locations. Its location near the Duomo in the 1900s was a prominent and important feature of the library. Being seen by the public daily signified that women could be writers and furthermore that women could and should be able to interact in society just as men. Its central and obvious location played a large part in its success and help towards the feminist movement. We asked her why the location had to change and she responded “troppo caro,” meaning it was too expensive. The new location, Via Pietro Calvi 29, however, is still beautiful and frequently visited.
Today, Milanese and Italian female writers are redefining the Italian literary culture. Referred to as the “Ferrante Effect,” Elena Ferrante wrote a critically acclaimed fiction novel that led other female writers to begin publishing fiction content, a formerly male-dominated genre in Italy. Successful fiction writer, Veronica Raimo, said “Once we were more reluctant to write about certain topics, fearing they could be labeled as ‘women stuff’” (Raimo, “The Ferrante Effect: In Italy, Women Writers are Ascendent”).
While women are still working towards equality and gaining the same recognition as men in literature, female writers and publishers as well as the Libreria delle Donne paved the way and made huge strides in the feminist movement in Milan, Italy, and internationally.
