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Organizers: Professor Catherine Ramsey-Portolano, Professor Lucia Tralli, Professor Jenny Petrucci, and Professor Francesca Conti

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SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

9:30: Welcome Breakfast
AUR GARDEN (Student Lounge in case of rain)

10:00-11:15: Panel 1: Cinema and Media -听Chair: Jenny Petrucci
AURIANA AUDITORIUM

• Catherine Ramsey-Portolano, Showcasing Neurosis in Italian Cinema of the Economic Boom: A Gendered Perspective
• Andrea Bini, Men on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown: Comedy Italian-style and the psychopathology of the Italian male
• Lucia Tralli, 鈥淵es, I truly dress like this.鈥� Fashion, Body Positivity, and Authenticity in Micro-Celebrities鈥� Affective Practices online

11:30-13:00: Panel 2 - Students鈥� Perspectives -听Chair: Francesca Conti
AURIANA AUDITORIUM

• Ana Signoretti Franco, The Velina Figure in Italy: The over sexualization of women in the media
• Lee Lanzillotta, 鈥淧er urbem enim irrideor鈥�: Misogyny, Power, and the Epistolary Commerce Between Isotta Nogarola and Guarino Veronese鈥�
• Alua Kargabayeva, Gender Apartheid: The Systematic Oppression of Women under Taliban Rule

13:00-14:00: Lunch
AUR GARDEN (Student Lounge in case of rain)

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14:00-15:30: Panel 3 - Multidisciplinary Perspectives -听Chair: Lucia Tralli
AURIANA AUDITORIUM

• Vassilissa Carangio, An Anticolonial and Gendered Analysis of Managerial Practices: A Case Study of the So-Called Australia
• Jenny Petrucci, 鈥淎 non-single story鈥�: the postcolonial narratives of Igiaba Scego and Ribka Sibhatu
• Elena Grillo, Linguistic analysis of gender stereotypes in classic fairy tales
• Francesca Conti, Gender, secrecy and innovation in Italian faith, folk healing and Segnature

15:45-17:15: Lecture and theatrical readings: Staging Violence against Women and Girls In Italy and Beyond
AURIANA AUDITORIUM

• Introduction: Catherine Ramsey-Portolano
• Presented by Luciana D鈥橝rcangeli, Duncan Rosso Vecchiarelli, India Rose

17:30-19:00: Aperitivo for all participants听 听
AUR GARDEN (Student Lounge in case of rain)

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Abstracts听and听Speaker听Bionotes

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11:30-13:00 Students鈥櫶齈erspectives Chair:听Francesca听Conti

Ana听Signoretti听Franco,听The听Velina听Figure听in听Italy: The听over听sexualization听of听women听in the media
For听my听presentation,听I听intend听to听analyze听the听characteristics听of听the听Velina听Culture听in听Italian films from the etymology of the word to the history of the Velina in Italian culture concluding with the contemporary representation of the figure. The听presentation听will听be听divided听in听3听main听points:

Origen
Evolution
Consequences

Furthermore,听I听wish听to听show听examples听from听the听well-known听media听that听portrait the听figures and support my argument as well as a post-feminism perspective on the issue. Additionally,听I听will听be听giving my听own听perspectives听on听how听this听reflects听Italian听culture听and stereotypes and affects women in Italy and globally by perpetrating the Velina figure.

Ana听Signoretti听Franco听is听a听junior听student at听the听American听University听of听Rome听seeking听a bachelor鈥檚 in film studies and a minor in Italian language and culture studies.

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Lee听Lanzillotta,听Per听urbem听enim听irrideor:听Misogyny,听Power,听and听the听Epistolary Commerce Between Isotta Nogarola and Guarino Veronese
Isotta听Nogarola听(1418-1466) is听perhaps听best听known听for听her听proto-feminist听dialogue听in听defense of the biblical Eve. However, like all humanists, she was also a prolific writer of letters. Her work has gained increased attention since the 1970s due to her place in history as one of the few women to assert herself as a scholar and thinker in the mostly-male world of Italian Renaissance Humanism. Yet her intellect was not enough to gain her a place at the table, so to speak. She had to fight to be heard. Her epistolary exchange with Guarino Veronese is particularly indicative of the tenuous position of a woman who dared assert herself in such a male-dominated sphere, as well听as听the听social听risks听of听being听rejected.听In this听period,听writing听letters听to learnedmen听was听one way to embark on a humanist career. Many epistles were written not only as means of communicationbetween听colleagues,听but also听with听the听eventual听goal听of听publication. Writing听to Veronese听was听a听bold听act and听his听initiallack听of听response听put听Nogarola听in a听socially听humiliating position. Her anger and disapointment at being ignored, clearly expressed in her subsequent letter, to which Veronese finally responded, is understandable. I propose that Nogarola鈥檚 strong听reaction听to听Veronese鈥檚silence听demonstrates听just听how听fragile听the听position听of the听learned Renaissance woman was - and what was at risk if she failed to gain the approval of male听humanists.

Lee听Lanzillotta听(he/him)听is听a听student听of听Archaeology听and听Classics,听with听a minor听in Latin.听His research has been published in the Journal of Classics Teaching and he will present this summer at the 2025 Classical Association Conference at the University of St. Andrews.

Alua听Kargabayeva,听Gender听Apartheid:听The听Systematic听Oppression听of听Women听under Taliban Rule
This presentation is aimed to address the daily struggles of Afghani women, who have been systematically oppressed by the Taliban rule using the international law and human rights perspective. What happens today to women in Afghanistan is called gender apartheid, which means social, sexual, and economic discrimination based on one鈥檚 gender. Gender apartheid, as racial apartheid, must be recognized and addressed as a violation of human rights, however, gender apartheid receives less attention and often has been dismissed. The case of Afghani women demonstrates the worst crisis in women鈥檚 rights and has global implications on gender inequality anywhere else. The issue is covered with stereotypes and cultural relativist听justification which must听be criticized. International听politics鈥� mainstream听leaders and diplomats听often听ignore听the听cruel听discrimination and听violence听against听Afghani听women听and tend tonormalize the听Taliban听government听by听engaging听in diplomatic听relationships听and听meeting听the leaders. All these听issues must听be addressed to raise awareness and break the听silence听on one听of the worst humanity crises in the world.

Alua听Kargabayeva听is听a听second-year听student听at听AUR,听majoring in听International听Relations & Global Politics with a minor in Economics and Peace & Conflict. She鈥檚 passionate about international politics, human rights, and humanitarian law, always looking to deepen her understanding of global issues.

This year, she was part of the organizing team for AUR鈥檚 traditional Spring Conference, 鈥淣avigating听GlobalDis(order),鈥澨齱here听she听gained听experience听in听coordinating a听conference for 80+ participants and hosting high-level speakers. In the future, she hopes to work with international organizations that protect human rights and promote peace. Alua is particularly interested in advocacy and addressing social inequalities,听believing听in the听importance听of听engaging withcritical听issues听to听drive听meaningful听change.

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14:00-15:30: Multidisciplinary听Perspectives Chair:听Lucia听Tralli

Vassilissa听Carangio,听An听Anticolonial听and听Gendered听Analysis听of听Managerial听Practices in 鈥淪o-called Australia鈥�
Management听studies听that听intersect听with听migration听in so-called听Australia听(and听other听colonized settings; see Bastien et al., 2020) often overlook land dispossession (Carangio, 2023). Organizational studies frequently detach from the dispossession of Indigenous peoples, as does institutionalized migration scholarship (Indelicato, 2024), which rarely considers how the dissolution of Native societies (Wolfe, 2016) was also perpetuated by non-Indigenous immigrants听(Indelicato,听2022;听Piperoglu,听2018) who听occupy听a听distinctontological听position听on unceded听land听(Moreton-Robinson,听2004).听Colonial听forces听reshape听the听world to听suit听settlers (Tascon, 2004), affecting refugees impacted by global colonial power.

White supremacy within Western-centric managerial practices (Alcadipani et al., 2012; Liu, 2020) depends on the possession (and theft) of Indigenous land, reinforcing Australia鈥檚 racialized capitalist system. This presentation, based on a forthcoming book, explores how hegemonic whiteness鈥攗nderstood as an imperialist, colonial, race-making Anglicized project鈥攕hapes the听gendered careers of highly skilled immigrants in a colonized job market. Additionally,rigid听gendered听analyses听of听managerial听practices听offer听reductive听examinations听of Indigenous lives (Bodkin-Andrews & Carlson, 2016) and remain tied to colonial gender binaries.听O鈥橲ullivan听(2021)听highlights听how听colonization听forcibly imposed听these听binaries听on Aboriginal lands. While studies on gender in management address immigrant women鈥檚 challenges in so-called Australia (Tran et al., 2024) and HRM鈥檚 role in intercultural adjustment, in this presentation I argue that HRM itself is rooted in Australia鈥檚 colonial听foundation.

HRM practices, embedded in colonial power, regulate access to land, government support, and resources. Although colonial-patriarchal oppression does not entirely preclude career advancement,听HRM听strategies听in听Australia听remainshaped听by听systemic听colonial听structures听that have long extracted from and dispossessed Aboriginal society.

Vassilissa听Carangio听holds听a听Ph.D.听in听Work听and听Organization听from听Swinburne听University听of Technology, Australia. She has taught management, business, and liberal arts subjects at various Australian institutions and was a visiting scholar at the University of Warwick, UK. She is also a Black Europe Summer School (BESS) alumna from the International Institute for Research and Education, Netherlands. She earned an MA in Communications (BA/MA) from Sapienza University of Rome, graduating听summa听cum听laude听with a听thesis听in听political听economy.听Her听research听focuses听on听race and gender inequalities in management, business, and organizations, with work published in听Gender, Work & Organization听and听Ethnic and Racial Studies. She is currently writing a book听on听gender,management,听and听anticolonialism听in听Australia鈥檚听labor听market,听under听contract with Palgrave Macmillan. A short comparison between Australia and Italy will also be offered at the end of her presentation.

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Jenny听Petrucci,听鈥淎听non-single听story鈥�:听the听postcolonial听narratives听of听Igiaba听Scego听and Ribka Sibhatu鈥檚
Italian history is embedded in colonialism and followed up through politics that are anchored in听postcolonial听history. This听paper听will听address听Postcolonialism听as听a听term听that听wants听to look听at the legacy between past and contemporary racism and sexism and aim to investigate what extent such legacy is linked to postcolonial racist imaginaries through the narratives of Somali-Italian Igiaba Scego and Eritrean Ribka Sibhatu. Italy moved only recently from being a country of emigration to a country of immigration. The history of Italian colonialism is in fact a rather obscure and forgotten chapter in Italian history. The colonial narrative though has been redefined by the returned gaze of African immigrants in Italy who have听started writing about their past听and their encounter with Italy. These听new听writers听are听something听new.听Most听of听them听are听Italian mother听tongue,听were听born听in Italy, and are highly educated; their stories speak about an Italian past which had s been hidden or forgotten. This paper will analyze some of their works using Crenshaw鈥檚 intersectionality concept as a theoretical framework. Italy听has听not听really听dealt听with the听"representation听of the听other"听since听the听images听created听by Fascist propaganda through schoolbooks, huge maps, advertisements, posters, songs, and films. Scego and Sibhatu not only engage with political and cultural issues such as immigration, citizenship, gender and race in their narratives, but they also unveil and challenge听a听forgotten听memory听of听colonialism听and imperialism听while听providing听a crucial听counter-narrative.

They both contribute to redefine the Italian national identity according to new cultural and linguistic听pluralism听as听anirreversible听process听of听transformation.听Their听characters听are听women who experienced sexism and racism together and whose bodies move inside transnational spaces, languages, and cultures to tell a different, 鈥榤ultiple鈥� story.

Jenny听Petrucci听is听an听Assistant听Professor听in听First听Year听Studies听at听The听American听University听of听Rome. She听has听a听BA听in听English听and German听from the听University听of听Bologna,听a听MA听in听Postcolonial Cultures听from听The听LondonMetropolitan听University, and听a听Doctorate听in Education听at听King鈥檚 College听London.听Her听research interests听includepostcolonial听studies,听gender听studies,听the听role of friendship in college transition as well as the first-year experience of less represented students in higher education (with a focus on gender, race, and inclusivity). Jenny听is听the听head听of the听first-year听experience听at听AUR and听teaches听introductory听courses听such as the听First Year Seminar,听ENG 101(Writing fundamentals),听ENG 102听(writing from research) and听ENG 202听(writing from theory).听She also teaches a 300- level course in Postcolonial Literature.

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Elena听Grillo,听Linguistic听analysis听of听gender听stereotypes听in听classic听fairy听tales
In this presentation I take a closer look at representations of the feminine and masculine through听classic听fairy听tales听andhow听they听have听influenced听the common imagination听by听creating gender stereotypes that still exist today and re-produce ideologies about them. Through the use of linguistic analysis software, I will explore the language used to connote men and women in classic fairy tales (adjectives, actions, particular expressions) and note the differences and the kind of imagery such connotations produce in common feeling.

There are now solid studies in linguistics that confirm how language has a deep social dimension听and听how听languageinfluences听thought听and perception听of听reality,听how听it听is听a听social process, internal to society and conditioned by social elements (Saphir-Worf, De Sassure,听Faircloug).

I听will听analyze听two听very听famous听fairy听tales听by听Charles听Perrault: 鈥淐inderella鈥澨齛nd听鈥淧uss听in Boots.鈥澨齈errault听had听deliberately听created听fairy tales听directed听at听the听girls听and听boys听of听the听noble classes听of听his听time听bypointing听out听to them the听social roles听they听would听play听and听the听behaviors they would need to have in order to be socially accepted. A large cohort of writers began to write fairy tales to be read in salons and courts, and these writers exploited not only French folklore but also borrowed from the Italian tradition and especially from Straparola (Le piacevoli notti 1550 and 1553) and Giambattista Basile (Lo cunto de li cunti, 1634-36) and also began to translate oriental fairy tales that had an enormous influence. I will use a semiotic-linguistic reference scheme (England,Descartes,Collier-Meek) to analyze the mentioned fairy tales in depth and to compare adjectives, actions, and expressions that refer to men and women in the stories and reveal the gender stereotypes that are related precisely to the language used.

Elena听Grillo听has听a听degree听from听Universit脿听degli听Studi听di听Messina听in听Modern听Languages听and Literatures with a final thesis titled 鈥淭he mirror of madness. Treatment and perception of female mental illness in nineteenth-century France鈥�. After听graduation,听thanks听to a听scholarship听from听the听Italian听Ministry听of Education,听she听worked as an Italian language assistant, in Haute-Savoie, France, where she taught Italian language and culture at the Charles Poncet High School. She听holds听a听master's听degree听from听Universit脿听degli听Studi听di听Padova听in Teaching听Italian as听a Second Language with a final paper on the use of video in class. She听has听taught听Italian听language听and听culture at听The听American听University听of听Rome听and听John Cabot听University and since听2004. At听JCU she听also teaches the course听Italian language and gender focused on advanced Italian language learning from a gender perspective.

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Francesca听Conti,听Gender,听secrecy听and听innovation听in听Italian听faith,听folk听healing听and听Segnature
This study examines the intersection of gender, faith, and secrecy in folk healing practices in contemporary听Italy.听Twomain case听studies听are听presented:听the听Cancelli听family's听male-centered lineage of sciatic and back pain healing near Foligno and the Segnature tradition in the Bologna region. The Cancelli family's gift, conferred upon male descendants by Saints Peter and Paul, exemplifies a form of faith-based transmission. Women of the Cancelli family could not be initiated because marriage would require them to take on their husbands' family names, breaking the ancestral lineage. In order to practice their faith-based rituals, male members of the Cancelli family had to remain in the small village of Cancelli, continuing to welcome visitors in pain reaffirming the core message of Jesus as loving and helping others inneed.听At听present,听Maurizio听Cancelli is听the听last听remaining听resident听of听Cancelli听and听likely the last representative of this centuries-long faith-based practice.

The Segnature tradition is not confined to a single family. It is widespread across Italy and neighboring听countries(Switzerland,听South听of France),听where听it听takes听on听different听names.听This study situates the Bologna region as a focal point where different trends seem to coexist. On one hand, Germana Tartari鈥檚 decision to publish and share the sacred words of the Segnature鈥攁 practice typically inherited through matrilineal channels and bound by secrecy鈥攃hallenges long-standing initiation rites and gender norms in folk medicine. By making this knowledge public, Tartari disrupts the traditional frameworks of folk healing, opening pathways for broader participation beyond familial or gendered constraints.

Methodologically,听this听study听employs听ethnographic听observations听and听biographical听interviews. By听juxtaposing听theCancelli听family's听adherence听to听continuity听with听Tartari鈥檚听boundary-pushing approach, this research highlights how gendered dynamics influence both the preservation and transformation of folk healing traditions in modern Italy.

Francesca Conti听holds a PhD in Sociology from Sussex University, an MPhil from Cambridge University, and a BA in History & Social Anthropology from SOAS. She is an academic advisor and Adjuct professor at AUR where she teaches a number of classes: sociology, anthropology, gender in global perspectives, migration and identity and the Research seminar in social sciences. She has published extensively on migration/emigration/integration.听More听recentlyshe听started听researching听the听role听of听meditative and inner state of consciousness in managing chronic illnesses, pain and disabilities. Her current research is on the role of faith, healing and spiritualty among Italian folk healers.

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15:45-17:15听听Staging听Violence听against听Women听and听Girls听in听Italy听and听Beyond.听Chair:听Catherine听Ramsey-Portolano

Lecture听and听theatrical听readings听by听Luciana听D鈥橝rcangeli, Duncan听Rosso听Vecchiarelli, and India Rose.

Contemporary movements听and听authors听in听the听theatrical听world听have听shone听a听harsh听light听on gendered violence, giving a voice to the women who have suffered such violence. This lecture by Prof. Luciana d鈥橝rcangeli delves into the representation of violence against women in modern theatre, supplemented by selected readings from听award-winning plays performed by India Rose and Duncan Rosso Vecchiarelli.

Luciana听d鈥橝rcangeli听is听the author听of听I听personaggi听femminili听nel听teatro听di听Dario听Fo听e听Franca Rame听(Cesati, 2008).听She has also published widely in journals and edited several books and special journal issues on Italian cinema and theatre. In 2021 she published听Atti di accusa. Testi teatrali e interviste sulla rappresentazione della violenza contro le donne听and听Staging Violence Against Women and Girls听in 2023 (co-edited with Claire Kennedy and Daniela Cavallaro). Both books are part of the research output of the Australasian Center for Italian Studies听Inaugural听Visual听and听Performance听Studies听Research听Group听created听by d鈥橝rcangeliin 2018, which she coordinated until the end of the project in 2022. Cassamarca Senior Lecturer for 13 years, and Head of Italian at Flinders University in Adelaide,听Australia,听where听shenow听holds听full听academic听status,听Luciana听taught听Italian theater, cinema, translation and culture. Currently Dr d鈥橝rcangeli is adjunct professor, language consultant, translator and interpreter based in Rome. Among her awards are the Italia nel Mondo prize (2016), gold medal from the Dante Alighieri Society (2017), and the Prize for Italian Literary Translation (2018) from the Melbourne Italian Institute of Culture.

India听Rose听is a听passionate听and听enthusiastic multi-disciplinary听theatre maker;听writer,听costume designer and director. She is focused on devising innovative ways of performing and expressing stories. Her work strives to challenge and present new perspectives about the world;听raw,听gritty,听untethered听and听intrinsically about human听connection,听she creates dynamic and听provoking听commentaries听about听current听and听taboo听social听issues.听Her听love听for听performance theatre reflects an appreciation for candid and outspoken displays of the indomitable human spirit. India has directed a number of productions including her own original scripts Daydreamer (2023 and 2024), Truth; From a Liars Lips (2024) as well as a variety of other creatives work such as Crow鈥檚 Nest (2024), a retelling of Hedda Gabbler (2021) and a short play titled Lamb of God (2022).

Duncan听Rosso听Vecchiarelli听is听an听actor,听musician,听playwright,听director,听and听translator/editor who has performed in multiple productions at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. His debut pi茅ce听Swing For The Fences,听a comedic yet thoughtful commentary on human connection and performance art during the COVID pandemic, was instrumental in securing both a First Class Honours and a University Medal from Flinders University, South Australia in 2021. Duncan has moved to Rome where he has completed a Masters in Screenwriting at IULM (2024).听He听is听now听dedicating听hisartistic听enterprise听to documentary听production听in听Rome听with GA&A Productions.

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The Gender Dialogues in Italy conference听will focus on examining the multifaceted and interdisciplinary dimensions of Gender Studies, while fostering a rich academic discourse and creative exchanges regarding gender within the Italian context, particularly addressing its intersections with culture and society.

In contemporary society, the lens of Gender Studies can be effectively utilized to investigate some of the most pressing issues within our current social landscape.听In order to provide the听enriching experience of collegial and multigenerational academic exchange,听the conference organizers听invite any members of academia or the general public who have an interest in听Gender听Studies听to attend this open event.听A full schedule of the day鈥檚 events will be published here on March 15.

Presentations on the day will be made by AUR faculty & students听on issues related to any aspect of the conference topic.听Possible topics may include but are not limited to:

• Historical perspectives on gender in Italy.
• Historical and contemporary narratives of gender in Italian art, music, or performance.
• Gender in Italian literature, comparative analyses, feminist narratives, queer readings.
• The role of language and translation in shaping gendered identities.
• Gender and migration in Italy.
• Representations of gender in Italian media, digital cultures, and the role of social platforms.
• Gender identities, activism, and the sociopolitical landscape in Italy.听

A buffet lunch will be provided for conference participants and attendees

For further details and to register your attendance, please complete the form below

Register.