Know the stories of the women who made the Constitution. 21 constituents called in an assembly of men to bring the point of view of women to the new Italy, giving a broad vision also in the choice of words that will make up the new Charter. But who are they, what are their stories? Today a book published by Salani, “Free for the Constitution. The 21 women who made Italy” by Valeria De Cubellis, Margherita Madeo and the pencil of Serena Riglietti, retraces in a simple style suitable for children, the personal stories of Maria Agamben, Adele Bei, Bianca Bianchi, Laura Bianchini, Elisabetta Conci, Maria De Unterrichter, Filomena Delli Castelli, Nadia Gallico, Angela Gotelli, Angela Maria Guidi, Nilde Iotti, Teresa “Chicchi” Mattei, Angelina Merlin, Angiola Minella, Rita Montagnana, Maria Nicotra, Teresa Noce, Ottavia Penna, Elettra Pollastrini , Maria Maddalena Rossi, Vittoria Titomanlio.
Remembering their names is already a first step in remembering their events. They all fought for the affirmation of freedom against the fascist regime, they participated in the Resistance, they were partisans, some exiled, others renounced their families for the fight, leaving their children in orphanages far from Italy. The book retraces their stories with simple words, images and some “explanatory” boxes to better understand the context in which we move, the curiosities, the key words. It is thanks to the commitment of these women that Article 3 of our Constitution contemplates “de facto inequalities” or “without distinction of sex” which was fundamental to avoid the ambiguities into which the Constitutions of other countries had fallen. They were responsible for the abolition of the word NN from the birth certificates of illegitimate children. Small signs of the female presence in the new parliament open to women and of an Italy that would no longer do without their voice in decisions. Statements of principle that have marked important steps forward in the lives of all citizens.
It is a book that takes us straight back to that June 2, 1946, so well told in Paola Cortellesi’s film “There’s Still Tomorrow”, to that first call for women to participate in the democratic life of our country by casting their vote . To the never-before-felt emotion of holding the electoral certificate in your hands, feeling a new responsibility after the suffering of the war. In this precious volume, the stories of the first people elected to Parliament are told, but also in an implicit way of all those who in the shadows contributed to the “new” choice of the Republic, against the old monarchy. If a new story began that day, it was above all thanks to them. And so it is right to engrave their names in our memory.