My research focuses on the relation between the body and the subject in the field of performing arts (i.e. Dance and theatre). The goal of the research is on the one hand, to disclose how contemporary art practices rethink subjectivity by processing, comparing, and deconstructing its social images. On the other hand, to question the current methodological approach of the performing art theories. Despite the Identity Studies (Disability Studies, Feminist Studies, Queer Studies ecc) and the artistic practices are questioning the categories of body, subject, genre and race, the theatrical scholars, at least in Europe, are far from the adoption of methodological and linguistic instruments suitable for the interpretation of the artistic and philosophical contemporary scenario. The reformulation of the theatrical form took place trough decomposition of the whole of a genre into its individual elements. Text, body, lights, object, sounds are each treated as autonomous realities. Once the actor is free from the playing a character, the representation of the subject is entrusted to the body. Consequently, theatrical scholars, from different perspectives, have considered reduced the actor's ability to attest a subject. The main hypothesis of this research is that artistic practices go beyond both stereotypes and available scientific theories, creating further lens for the reading of subjectivity. At the same time these experiences put into question the adoption of uniform and stable categories for the interpretation of the actor's work.

Questo è il secondo di una serie di 4 volumi che raccolgono una selezione degli atti del convegno internazionale «World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi», organizzato dal CIRSDe nel febbraio 2011 c/o l’Università di Torino. I/le ricercatori/trici si sono confrontati in una prospettiva gender oriented sulla globalizzazione, l’incontro di culture, il transculturalismo, il superamento dei confini nazionali, la migrazione, i linguaggi, lo sviluppo economico. Questo secondo volume affronta più nel dettaglio la tematica della violenza e dell’agency delle donne.

Questo volume si inserisce nell’ambito della ricerca “Violenza di genere in contesti difficili: un confronto tra metodologie di rilevazione, di contrasto e di aiuto nell'area Mediterranea, con particolare focus su Torino e alcune città mediorientali”, realizzata con il sostegno della Fondazione CRT-Progetto Alfieri e con i contributi della Città di Torino-Assessorato ai Servizi Civici, Cooperazione e Relazioni Internazionali, del Centro Interdisciplinare di Ricerche e Studi delle Donne, del Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali dell’Università degli Studi di Torino e delle associazioni Isha L'Isha – Haifa Feminist Center e Women Empowerment Project di Gaza City.

According to the literature (Oddone 2013; Ciccone 2014; Cosenza 2015; Magaraggia 2015; Polizzi & Oliveri 2015), the representations of gender-based violence in Italian social advertisements are strongly linked to stereotypical imaginaries of the physical dimension, domestic violence, and the removal of victims' agency, as well as heteronormative and ableist ones. In my qualitative research on 12 advertisements (from 2006 to 2019), I tried to identify representations that go beyond hegemonic terms, with particular attention to the dimensions of racism, ableism and homolesbobitransphobia, applying the intersectional approach, to reacha more complex understanding of how identities and power relations are constructed in visual media. My analysis sought to answer the question of whether social advertisements contain images that challenge stereotypes and prejudices regarding violences, or whether they reiterate certain representational mechanisms that are the result of the phenomenon they are intended to combat. The hypotheses on their verifiability ‒ and therefore on the scarce capacity to challenge the preconceptions of those advertisements that by their function should promote social change ‒ were tested on the basis of the following variables, according to a qualitative methodology that refers to socio-semiotic visual analysis in search of counter-hegemonic narratives: promoting subjects, ways of representing the places of violence, representation of the violences themselves, identities and bodies and communicative style. My research shows that, in Italy, it is difficult to carry out campaigns against gender violence that exclude or question stereotypes. On the one hand, there is a gap between innovative aims and the use of stereotypical language, which is typical of social advertising’s form. On the other hand, there are considerable differences between the various promoters: there is a tension between the different structures and aims of the promoters surveyed, between public service advertising and advocacy.

This thesis displays an ethnographic research aimed at the exploration of the «politics of masculinity», which represent a phenomenon of «mobilizations and struggles where the meaning of masculine gender is at issue, and, with it, men’s position in gender relations» (Connell, 1996, 205). Given the shortage of academic and public debate, which historically concerns the themes of masculinity, the research focuses on the concept of crisis and its spread. In addition to its contribution to the growth of media interest and to the development of men’s studies in recent years, this notion has fostered the diffusion of the male voice in the shape of specific associations. This thesis takes into account two Italian experiences that are significant for their theoretical contrast about men’s studies. Bounded up with the social constructionism, Maschile in gioco (Rome) is a group that practises self-consciousness and belongs to the network of Maschile Plurale association, whereas Campo maschile (Brescia) is configured as a project in continuity with the Maschi Selvatici association and with its typically «essentialist» positions. From a methodological point of view, the participant observation – a functional technique for the investigation of form and content of the two case studies – is accompanied by the technique of «focused interview». These qualitative techniques are useful for studying experiences of which literature has already highlighted the contrast in terms of discursive repertoires: in the first case they are aimed at the deconstruction of masculinity, in the second at its reconstruction. However, by enhancing the «continuity» between content and form, the research lays particular stress on a common – even though oriented towards opposite directions – work, which involves the two case studies as all-male socialization agencies. In the end, the research emphasizes the recurrence of a model of masculinity close to intimacy – not far from the concept of «caring masculinities» (Elliott, 2015) – which unites the two case studies and is able, perhaps, to challenge the deep-rooted patriarchal system of our society.

War has been, and still is, highly characterized by sexual violence. The present work takes a cue from the testimonies of victims of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence narrated by Lamb (2020) in “Our Bodies, Their Battlefield: What war does to Women” since, as the author writes, “You won’t find these women’s names in the history books or on the war memorials that we pass in our railway stations and town centres but to me, they are the real heroes.” (p.11). Although war rape has existed for as long as conflicts themselves have existed, the legislative relevance of this crime as a crime against humanity, as a weapon of genocide, and as a war crime, only came into existence following the establishment of ad hoc international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Understanding the origin of sexual violence in armed conflicts is very complex as it is the result of multiple variables: from cultural norms to complex political and war strategies. Rape is often committed to terrorizing the population, breaking up families, destroying communities and even changing the ethnic composition of the next generations. Many studies have focused on the socio-political analysis of this reality and the consequences at individual, social, and community levels. Few, however, have investigated the social perception of this issue. The main purpose of this exploratory research is to investigate whether people's perception of sexual violence can be influenced and modified by the war context in which this violence occurs, since, as Frese and colleagues (2004) point out, the characteristics of the context in which the violence occurred influence the participant’s perception of the event. In particular, the focus was on the recognition of the event as violence, the perception of severity, and the punitiveness of the perpetrators.

Questo è l’ultimo di una serie di 4 volumi che raccolgono una selezione degli atti del convegno internazionale «World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi», organizzato dal CIRSDe nel febbraio 2011 c/o l’Università di Torino. I/le ricercatori/trici si sono confrontati in una prospettiva gender oriented sulla globalizzazione, l’incontro di culture, il transculturalismo, il superamento dei confini nazionali, la migrazione, i linguaggi, lo sviluppo economico. Questo quarto volume affronta più nel dettaglio le seguenti tematiche: il genere e la cultura nelle città europee; il femminismo, la teoria queer e la critica postcoloniale.

Nel 2007, in occasione dell’Anno Europeo delle Pari Opportunità, il CIRSDe promosse, con l’appoggio della Rappresentanza in Italia della Commissione Europea, l’istituzione delle Giornate annuali «Donne per l’Europa», titolo che riprende il nome del gruppo «Femmes pour l’Europe», fondato da Ursula Hirschmann negli anni 1970. L’intento era – ed è rimasto – quello di invitare annualmente una/o studiosa/o di respiro internazionale a tenere una Lezione sul tema, e un gruppo di altre/i partecipanti a riflettere sul contributo diretto delle donne a pensare, costruire e immaginare l’Europa. In questo libro raccogliamo gli atti delle prime tre giornate per Ursula Hirschmann, organizzate nel 2007, 2008 e 2009, oltre a una serie di altri contributi di studiose che hanno dedicato i loro recenti studi a questa figura femminile.

Nel 2007, in occasione dell’Anno Europeo delle Pari Opportunità, il CIRSDe promosse, con l’appoggio della Rappresentanza in Italia della Commissione Europea, l’istituzione delle Giornate annuali «Donne per l’Europa», titolo che riprende il nome del gruppo «Femmes pour l’Europe», fondato da Ursula Hirschmann negli anni 1970. L’intento era – ed è rimasto – quello di invitare annualmente una/o studiosa/o di respiro internazionale a tenere una Lezione sul tema, e un gruppo di altre/i partecipanti a riflettere sul contributo diretto delle donne a pensare, costruire e immaginare l’Europa. Questo libro è una riedizione di Donne per l’Europa (Rosenberg & Sellier, 2013) e raccoglie gli atti delle prime quattro giornate per Ursula Hirschmann, organizzate nel 2007, 2008, 2009 e 2012, oltre a una serie di altri contributi di studiose che hanno dedicato i loro recenti studi a questa figura femminile.

La pubblicazione di questo secondo volume di Donne per l’Europa e la contemporanea riedizione del primo volume (del 2013) consentono di evidenziare un itinerario di pensiero e discussione lungo la strada indicata da Ursula Hirschmann e dal gruppo da lei fondato nel 1975 a Bruxelles. “Femmes pour l’Europe” si prefiggeva lo scopo di portare avanti l’ispirazione del Manifesto di Ventotene del 1941 per un’Europa intesa come patria di giustizia e uguaglianza, aprendola alla prospettiva di genere. Questo volume, che raccoglie gli atti delle giornate per Ursula Hirschmann organizzate dal 2013 al 2017, è completato dalla Lectio Magistralis tenuta da Rosi Braidotti all’Istituto Europeo di Firenze nel 2001, una riflessione su genere, identità e multiculturalismo in Europa.