Acknowledgements
This volume sees the light primarily thanks to the support and affection of a scant squad of old-school gents scattered here and there on the European continent. I will not mention their names because I am sure they would not appreciate it at all. Anyway, thanks, guys. I hope I can repay you sooner or later.
I also thank the International Research Office of the University of Ljubljana for supporting and advising me during the writing of the MSCA WeCanIt Project.
A special credit goes to the entire Department of History, Humanities and Society of the Tor Vergata University of Rome for welcoming me with so much affection and sympathy.
Likewise, my acknowledgement also goes to all the staff of the Venice School of Management of the Caâ Foscari University of Venice, where I have the privilege and the honour of being the chairholder for the course in Gender History.
Of course, my deepest gratitude can only go to my Maestro Marco Dogo â without him, not only would this work never have existed, but I would be doing another job. Equally, my most affectionate thoughts go to his wife Sandra Grego (Sandra, I do miss our aperitifs and chats at San Marco or Tommaseo in Trieste. I hope that, in the meantime, you have finally learned to play bridge and that you and the Capo are well, wherever you are).
On this occasion, I must thank and praise two female scholars for whom I have deep respect and who serve as models for me: Luisa Passerini, who has always believed in the scientific validity of the WeCanIt and Ondine projects, and Minna Rozen, for her unwavering solidarity, closeness, and esteem.
Naturally, a heartfelt thank you to Alessandra Giliberto, Melissa Allieri, and John Ryan, who witnessed the birth, development, and flourishing of this editorial project. I am also grateful to Sophie Casson, who kindly permitted me to use her La Sirène as the cover for this volume.
Thanks to Pia Covre for her friendship and for her daily work on behalf of so many women who have been thrown into the storm by life and circumstances.
Finally, countless thanks go to my parents â my mother, Rossella and my father, Pietro. Thank you for your love, it taught me powerful words. And even stronger âkung fuâ!