Italy’s Abuse

Today I read a disturbing article on NPR about the status of women in Italy.  The article titled, In Italy Feminism is Out, Women as Sex Symbols In discusses the role of women in Italy, especially since the 80’s, and the growing rate of women’s bodies oversexualized in the media and showgirls as the idealized role model.  Sad.  Very sad.  In fact it made me angry as well.  Especially when I read on about the low percentage of women in leadership roles in the country, “2 percent in top management positions…” and “only 17 percent of members of parliament are women…”  How sad for the women and young girls growing up thinking that the only way to gain respect, to change the world, to lead, to make a difference, is by giving their bodies for the enjoyment of men, especially powerful men.  It makes me angry when I see the powerful abusing others for their own greed and gratification.  They have taken the gift of a woman’s beauty and not used it for good, but have twisted it into something no longer beautiful.