On Monday, March 16, there will be a presentation of Margherita Becchetti's book "Not for Beauty - Women (and Men) in the Partisan Struggle" at Palazzo Crepadona.
When Elsa Oliva climbed into the mountains to join a partisan formation, she made things clear right away to the men who gave her sly looks. She told them she was not there to find a lover, nor to serve or care for them. She asked to have a weapon; otherwise, she would leave, and added that she would keep it not for beauty. Elsa Oliva had a rare determination for women of her time. Not all could be as assertive and bold as she was. Entering the world of men was difficult; some succeeded, while others remained on the margins. All of them paid a price.
So what did the partisan struggle mean for them? How were they received or treated? And how much of what they experienced resembles what women today feel when they venture into male-dominated realms?
Free admission.
