An allegedly sexist statue of a woman
in a 19th century poem about a Risorgimento tragedy has been
unveiled at the site of patriot Carlo Pisacane's failed 1857
landing at Sapri in Campania.
The bronze statue by sculptor Emanuele Stifano, called La
Spigolatrice di Sapri (The Gleaner of Sapri) like the
commemorative poem, has been accused of being anachronistically
scantily clad.
Its detractors say it does not accurately depict 19th century
working women and is blatantly sexist.
Stifano was unrepentant saying "if it was up to me I would have
done it completely nude".
Former House Speaker and feminist Laura Boldrini said the statue
"is an insult to women and the history it is supposed to be
celebrating".
Other women MPs criticised the fact that it was unveiled by an
all-male group of local and national officials including former
premier Giuseppe Conte.
Actor Alessandro Gassmann quipped that a similar statue should
be put up to Risorgimento hero Giuseppe Garibaldi.
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