Our bodies, ourselves: the transnational connections of 1970s Italian and Roman feminism

Bracke, M. A. (2015) Our bodies, ourselves: the transnational connections of 1970s Italian and Roman feminism. Journal of Contemporary History, 50(3), pp. 560-580. (doi: 10.1177/0022009414552869)

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Abstract

This article presents an approach to studying processes of transnational exchange and reception between social movements. It does so by focusing on a locally situated case study: the movement for women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights in 1970s Rome. A focal point in ‘second-wave’ Italian feminism, these groups were profoundly shaped by feminist debates and practices in, notably, the USA and France. The analysis highlights the centrality of local actors in translating, appropriating and re-(and de-)contextualizing transnational sources, thus transforming their meanings. Questioning the often automatic status ascribed to the nation-state as analytical framework, the article illustrates that re-contextualization equally takes place on the local (as distinct from national) level, and that these layered transfer processes are central to understanding the complexity and effectiveness of postwar social movements such as feminism.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bracke, Professor Maud
Authors: Bracke, M. A.
College/School:College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
Journal Name:Journal of Contemporary History
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0022-0094
ISSN (Online):1461-7250
Published Online:17 December 2014

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