Gender, emotions and national identities: a new perspective on the abortion debates in Italy (1971-1981).

ended

The proposed project focuses on the public debate (1971–1981) around Law No. 194, which liberalised abortion in Italy. It reconstructs the demands and actions of feminist groups and women’s associations, and analyses the discursive practices implemented by the various political cultures involved. The project aims to go beyond the parliamentary debate, and in doing so it will examine the social and cultural impact of an epoch-making law, as well as study the use of emotions and the elaboration of gender models and national identities. To reach these goals, the ER will resort to a classical methodology (cultural history of the political) but will apply it to an entirely new set of sources and to actors hitherto neglected in historiography. This innovative research project will allow the Experienced Researcher (ER) to engage in an international research network, to expand her expertise and plan the next steps of her career.