The Italian translation of American Feminism: the CNDI and the International Women's Movement from Belle Epoque to Fascism

In early 20th century, the Consiglio Nazionale delle Donne Italiane was a leading feminist organization in Italy. From its birth in 1903, its leaders maintained strong transnational connections, acting as the Italian branch of the International Council of Women, founded in Washington DC in 1888. On a smaller scale, the Federazione Nazionale Pro-Suffragio Femminile was a member of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, born in 1904 as an offshoot of the US National Woman Suffrage Association. American feminism, therefore, both directly and through its leading role in the international movement, was influential in the evolution of Italian feminism. Italian representatives participated in the long season of international meetings during the first decades of the century, with the exception of the war years. In particular, in May 1914, on the eve of World War I, the CNDI hosted the ICW quinquennial meeting in Rome, while in May 1923, at the beginning of the fascist regime, the IWSA held its ninth congress in Rome. Despite their efforts, Italian feminists were never part of the inner circle of the international movement. Analyzing their roles and attitudes, the paper stresses the similarities, as well as the differences, between the Italian and the American-led feminisms.