BELLUNO. ThisThirty names of women deserving to be mentioned in the toponymy of the municipalities of Belluno. Speaking of the “pink quotas” there are different opinions: there are those who believe that the application of this rule is discriminatory and those who, on the other hand, think that it is still necessary to use it in politics, work, salaries, in the organization of festivals and conferences.
But beyond deciding whether one or the other opinion is correct, what is certain is that in toponymy the law of “pink quotas” has never been applied. In other words, women are forgotten, indeed, they are almost never taken into consideration when it comes to naming the streets, squares or any other public place in a city.
Appeal to the mayors
In Italy out of a hundred streets, only seven are dedicated to women and half of these are madonnas and saints. More than a year ago, the “Non una di less” movement in Belluno analyzed the situation of the road traffic in the 61 Municipalities of the Province and found that even in our territory there are very few or even no public spaces dedicated to women.
After noting the obvious “lack”, the Belluno women embarked on a “mission” by the mayors to ask that each administration undertake to name a public space after a woman, as an act of justice and a sign of change that is able to influence the education of future generations.
A long search
To support the project, “Non una di less”, has undertaken a research on women who, in the Belluno area, have had a weight in history, in progress, in social achievements, often even with the sacrifice of their lives. “It was a vast but very interesting work”, they tell us, “carried out thanks to Belluno experts in history, witnesses and relatives who have made an important contribution and thanks also to texts and documents consulted in the libraries of the province, of the Institute historian of the Resistance and in the State Archives ».
And they continue: “It was a constant surprise to discover how so many women have been the pillars on which the progress of culture, freedom, social achievements that we enjoy today were founded”.
The result of this extensive research and study is the booklet “Una Donna una Via” which contains the premise and a list of almost 130 items among women and groups. «It should be emphasized», say the project managers, «that about fifty are the heroines of the Resistance, without counting as many deportees who are not included in the list, because only their names are known for now. Our intention, in fact, is to continue the research, for greater knowledge and awareness ».
The “mission” to the mayors began in the summer of last year, almost immediately interrupted by the confinement for Covid 19, but this year it has resumed vigorously, thanks above all to the commitment of Margherita De Marchi, contact person for the project that it was proposed and delivered to over 30% of the municipalities. The indications of the oral and written sources can be obtained by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Illustrious women
“A Donna una Via ”is the document that gathers the women and groups of women who have spent for our territory, distinguishing themselves in various fields. Important, sometimes decisive, was the contribution and sacrifice of the women of the Resistance. Among the best known we remember Tea Palman, Giuliana Foscolo, Albertina Brogliati, Tina Merlin, Dina and Iva Boni, Agnese Righes, Rina Lotto, Margherita Forlin, Lena De Min, Rina Lorenzon, Amalia Gorza and Rosanna Vedana. There are the climbers who first reached some Dolomite peaks: Maria Breveglieri, Irene Pigatti, Beatrice Tomasson, Renata Sommavilla, Maria Guglielmini, Emma Franceschi, women who have struggled to make their way in a purely masculine world. Writers and poets: Carlotta Fratini, Lucrezia Marinelli, Syria Poletti, Carmela Ronchi, Giuliana Rosso, Luigina Tavi. The musicians, lyric singers and actresses: Anna Da Vià, Elsa De Zolt, Donatella Ceccarello. Among the artists: Caterina Panciera Besarel, Marianna Corte, Romana D’Ambros.
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