Tendenze e prospettive

Trends and perspectives
On the basis of the content of the various articles dealing with the role played by women in the mafias, this essay addresses some of the crucial topics of the current debate. Among these it emerges the relationship between formal belonging to the organization (i.e. the issue of women affiliation, traditionally forbidden) and family belonging to the mafia world, a «world a part» if compared with the overall society. The violence issue, both the one specifically criminal and the one against women in particular, is crucial for understanding the intertwining existing between criminal and daily life within mafia contexts. The contribution provided by turncoats have spread a new light upon these issues, while evidencing the multiple roles and functions played by women. One can often question whether these changes can be conceived in terms of mafia women emancipation’s processes. However, if we consider the substantial subordination suffered by women within this monosexual male world, these hypothesis seem scarcely relevant.