by Federica Sgorbissa [SISSA Medialab] /
Gender and Intersectionality in Remembrance
In Trieste we recently hosted two public events exploring how gender and intersectionality shaped experiences of persecution under fascism and how these perspectives can enrich today’s remembrance practices.
The first, held in Italian on the 3rd of September, was a course for teachers and educators. It opened with historian and activist Marco Reglia on “deviant masculinities” and the repression of male homosexuality. Professor Elisabetta Vezzosi (University of Trieste) then traced women’s roles during the 20th century, highlighting the structural barriers that constrained both public participation and private life. Both talks prompted many questions, confirming how strongly teachers feel about the topic. We also collected feedback via a short post-event questionnaire: most respondents emphasized the need for concrete classroom strategies and materials, indicating a clear demand for tools that make these themes teachable and age-appropriate.
The second event, held in English on the 29th of September and open to a wider audience, drew university and PhD students as well as early-career researchers. Natascha Bobrowsky (University of Vienna) examined the persecution of lesbian women in Austria under National Socialism, while Marco Reglia revisited the history of the pink triangle and traced the persistence of discrimination against homosexuals over the decades. The closing talk by journalist, author, and teacher Simone Petralia used storytelling to recount the life of zoologist Enrica Calabresi, a Jewish scientist persecuted under fascism. The storytelling approach helped make the historical material more immediate and tangible, fostering a reflective atmosphere.
Across both dates, audience engagement was intense: questions, comments, and personal reflections surfaced throughout. A clear takeaway emerged: remembrance that includes gendered and intersectional perspectives is not an optional add-on. It is essential for understanding the complexity of the past and for cultivating empathy and civic awareness in the present. Teachers are asking for support, young people are ready to engage, and storytelling remains one of the most effective bridges between historical record and lived experience.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. |