Study of 245 Italian Female Statues Reveals Pervasive Sexism and Privatization

So, there's this book titled *Comunque nude. La rappresentazione femminile nei monumenti pubblici italiani*, which came out on June 7, 2023. It dives into 245 statues of women across Italy. A survey from Mi Riconosci in 2021-2022 found that women’s representation is not just scarce but often overly sexualized and lacks uniqueness. The book features 11 essays from female activists and scholars focusing on topics like gender violence, the sexualization of art, and problematic couple depictions. Interestingly, it highlights that 80% of newer statues come from private donations, pointing to the privatization of public spaces. It also suggests improvements for female representation and plans to offer educational tools for schools. Plus, Mi Riconosci is updating an online map of these monuments.