In most places in Italy, women are basically as liberated as they are in the UK or US - even if few will admit to being feminist, a label that carries largely negative connotations in Italy. This social stigma has resulted in a low level of structured activity such as women's groups and helpline organizations; despite this, women have secured great advances in the fields of equality at work and good maternity rights. Another statistic that may confound your preconceptions is that Italy's birth rate is one of the lowest in Europe.

Periodicals such as Noi Donne are good sources of information on culture, news and politics relating to women. Rome, Bologna and Milan are the places with most action, although this is fairly limited: il riflusso , the general term to describe the fall-off in political activity since the Seventies, has affected the women's movement as it has others. The Centro Documentazione Donne (Via Galliera 8, Bologna; phone 051.233.863), the Unione delle Donne Italiane (Via della Lungara 19, Trastevere, Rome; phone  06.687.2130), and the Centro Studi Storiche sul Movimento di Liberazione delle Donne (Corso di Porta Nuova 32, Milan; phone  02.2900.5987), are organizations with an academic or institutional slant on women's issues.

For contacts and Internet discussion groups try the Spazio Donna (womens' space) in La Città Invisibile at www.citinv.it . Italy's first woman-focussed Internet portal is www.supereva.it - it is laid out very much like a women's magazine, though has a "politica e societa" section with some interesting contacts.

Italy guide

Getting there
When to go
Where to go
Italy general info
Italy
Average costs
Credit and debit cards
Cost, money, banks
The euro
Insurance, health cover
Embassies, consulates
Red tapes, visas
Banks and exchange
Travelers with disabilities
North-South divide

Getting around
Ø Trains
Ø Flights
Ø Driving
Ø Cycling, motorbiking
Ø Ferries, hydrofoils
Ø Hitchhiking
 

Festivals:
Ø Religious, traditional
Ø Diary festivals
Ø Food festivals
Ø Arts Festivals
Ø Ferragosto

Italy food and drink
Ø Italian cuisine
Ø Italian pizza
Ø Lunch and dinner
Ø Drinking

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