WOMEN FASCISTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 20

WOMEN FASCISTS

DIVIDED INTO THREE PABTIES.. Although Fascism is primarily a men's movement, it has not neglected the women, and Italian girls and women aro now organised on an almost uqual footing with boy Balillas, youthful Avanguardisti, and full-fledged Pascists, according to their ago. Tho tjirco categories into which tho feminine admirers and'supporters of Fascism have been divided are the "Little Italian Girls," the "Maids of Italy," and "Women Fascists." Tho passage from tho first group to the .second takes place when the candidates are thirteen years of age, and they remain among the "Maids of Italy" until the ago of eighteen, when they are eligible to become "Women Fascists." The object of this organisation (says the Home eorresponr dent of the "Christian Science Monitor") is to instil into tho girls precisely at tho time when their character is developing a full comprehension of the duties of a woman not only as a wife and mother, but as a citizen as well. ■The activities.'. of tho women's group vary; they go from physical education in all its specialisations, such as sports and gymnastics, to cultural preparation (libraries, evening and Sunday classes, educational cinemas, and theatres, etc.), while a great deal of attention is given tr charitable work. It is no exaggeration to say that the practical results achieved in the very short time since the movement was first started aro simply marvellous. Throughout the peniusula, 1500 groups have been .formed, comprising 20,000 "Maids of Italy," duly provided with their Fascist tickets, and the organisation is developing by leaps and bounds. Moreover, there 'are 135,000 "Little Italian Girls". grouped in 3000 centres, ready, to

strengthen the higher organisation as they gradually reach the required age, when they will be entitled to wear the picturesque black cap aa designed by Eaphacl.