Women in power, feminism's fault line

While disparities in representation between men and women remain persistent at the highest decision-making levels, the arrival of some women in power reveals dissensions over the very nature of the «women's cause».

«I am a woman, I am a mother, I am Italian, I am a Christian.» In 2022, three years after proclaiming these words during a speech in Rome, Giorgia Meloni became the first woman to lead Italy by taking the helm of the Council of Ministers. Throughout her campaign, her identity as a woman and a mother was particularly emphasized.

Looking at the statistics—and well beyond Italy—Giorgia Meloni stands out as an exception. In June 2024, she was the only female head of government in the official G7 photo. Currently, fewer than ten women lead European states or governments, and