Women's body, dresses and fashion in Italy

During the first half of the twentieth century, in Italy there were significant differences between male and female education. Being a girl meant being subject to prejudices and rules from which male peers were free. The norms, which concerned both the physical and moral spheres, aimed to educate girls, future women, to be silent, calm, modest. The girls had to prepare themselves for being good housewives, wives and mothers. The female body had to be hidden as much as possible. Otherwise, the girl could be considered vain or of loose morals. Such ideal guidelines were communicated via fairy tales, manuals of etiquette, novels, fashion magazines, and women’s style columns.