Women’s mobilization for war (Italy)

The departure of millions of men for the front created unprecedented areas of action which Italian women could enter. The mobilization of women was accompanied by acceptance of, or, on the contrary, opposition to the war reflecting the developments and the rifts which were taking place in society. With the start of the conflict women mobilized through a network of associations in order to support families and combatants. At the same time they were introduced into employment in a manner unprecedented in the country’s history. Generally, the women's movement participated in the mobilization believing that it would lead to greater political, social and economic citizenship. However, this strategy did not succeed and revealed a political class not prepared to recognize women as an essential part of the nation in concrete terms.