THE INTERPRETATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE ITALIAN WOMENS MOVEMENT OF THE1970S AND 1980S

The practice of consciousness-raising in Italian neo-feminism can be i nterpreted on one hand as a revisitation of women's older tradition of exchange and self-expression, and on the other hand as a contribution to democracy. The small group provided new ways of implementing the p rinciple of freedom of speech and the direct exercise of democratic ri ghts. However, in the specific Italian context, it never quite address ed some major problems arising from the Mediterranean idea of the 'gre at mother.' The connection between a concept of motherhood that includ es full rights for mothers as political subjects and a 'substantial' f orm of democracy requires further exploration. It might have particula r relevance in promoting understanding among women of different cultur es, such as those that converge in Europe today under the pressure of migration and political change.