This document compares the status and rights of women in Italy and the United States over the past 100 years. It discusses how women in both countries rebelled against limitations historically and conquered rights like the right to vote. It analyzes the film "The Color Purple" as an example of struggles faced by women in the early 1900s. It also examines students' perspectives on modern women in forums, finding that Italian students see Italian women often objectified while American students do not have this view of women in their country.

1. Progress or regression? Are women in Italy and the USA more independent than they were 100 years ago? Silvia Biondaro Serena Zaniolo 12th May 2011

2. EXPLANATION Compare how Italian and American women rebelled against limitations and how they conquered their rights Example of the film “The Color Purple” Going through forum 6 and 7 to state students’ ideas on actual women in their respective countries Is there a regression of women situation?

3. “THE COLOR PURPLE”by S. Spielberg (1985) Based on a novel by Alice Walker story of a young African American girl named Celie, sexist problems of African American women during the early 1900s Celie was abused and had two children by her father and he forced her to marry a widower who treats her like a slave and beats her Albert's old flame, the jazz singer Shug Avery comes to live with them and helps Celie raise her self-confidence and they also entertain an affair Celiealso finds strength in Sofia who marries Albert's son. She has also suffered abuse from the men in her familybut she refuses to tolerate it Celieis leaving with Shug and her husband, Albert's attempts to verbally abuse Celie into submission, she stands up and she rebelled to him

4. RIGHTS CONQUERED BY WOMEN ITALIAN USA 1945 – right to vote 1974 – law about divorce 1975 – law about abortion and family right 1978 – law about motherhood and pregnancy interruption 1920 – 19th Amendment giveswomen the right to vote 1961 – birth control pillsmade available 1969 – California first state to adopt "no fault" divorce law 1973 – woman‘s right to safe and legal abortion

5. COMPARISON OF FORUM 6 WITH FORUM 7 SE NON ORA QUANDO WOMEN IN THE USA “[…] io non mi sento rappresentata in nessun modo da quello stereotipo di donna-oggetto che si fa sfruttare dall’uomo pur di apparire[…]” “[...]il percorso da fare è ancora in salita, perché purtroppo molte donne credono che per emanciparsi basta avere delle doti fisiche esagerate[...]” “[…]le figure di riferimento femminili che appaiono nei mass-media sono solo figure di donne-oggetto che possono portare a una visione collettiva distorta della donna[...]” “[...]certe donne d’oggi pur di apparire in TV o su una copertina sono disposte a fare di tutto, quindi il problema centrale forse è una mancanza di valori e di dignità[...]” “[...]I don’t think women are viewed as entirely equal in the US […]” “[...]today in the US women and men do have equal opportunity[...]” “[…] we still have a way to go but it is impossible to deny that women are making progress[...]” “[...]the woman is the main breadwinner of the family while the man takes more of a backseat role and tends to the house cooking, cleaning and organising it: this is very common in the USA[…] ”

6. COMMENTS ABOUT FORUMS 6 AND 7 Italian students believe that Italian women are seen as objects Italian women themselves behave in a wrong way: they think that to emancipate they have only to show their body Italian students don’t identify themselves in this model of woman Two different view of women’ position: according to someone they are as equal as men, according to others they haven’t reached the same level Something very strange here in Italy: men who do house workings

7. CONCLUSION American students never refer to woman seen as an object while Italian ones always pointed out this issue “[…] this kind of extreme freedom can hide new ways of submission by mixing up freedom and commodification of the body and using it to receive favours. Women often forget to be owners of rights and they don’t compel respect […]” American men usually do house workings while in Italy this is very strange In Italy women have an ideal freedom but it isn’t confirmed in real life In the past women fought together for their rights while now they fight alone