Representing Violence against Women: A Case Study from Early Twentieth-Century Italy

A man murdered his wife in 1903 Milan. By analysing how this case was represented and by examining the works of scientists and jurists across centuries, this book seeks to explore how the society of early twentieth-century Italy envisioned the relationship between men and women and how reputation, honour and their understanding intertwined to mould the values by which people lived. Specifically, it investigates how scientific and juridic literature, together with newspapers, magazines and journals had an oblique power to manipulate and reinforce stereotypes and prejudices – thereby distorting perceptions, rendering acceptable inequalities, discrimination and violence – at a time in which new ideas and new sciences, challenged certainties and redefined the sense of self. As a result, the victim became a culprit and the culprit became a victim, thus shifting responsibility and creating an equivocal misrepresentation of reality.