Women for Europe

Europe is undoubtedly experiencing a moment of crisis. Indeed, exclusively focussing on the economy and finances, with occasional analyses of institutional frameworks, whilst overlooking Community foundations, notably people and values on which social coexistence repose, further worsens the ongoing crisis. It appears that it’s not an oversight. Rather, we fear that this situation is the result of a conscious choice, and therefore all the more serious and blameful.Values: the respect for our and other people’s lives, freedom, the family, children’s education – including adults’; ethics, civil conscience; solidarity… We could go on and on. People: men and women, actors and spectators of a more egalitarian society indeed, but this very society tends to be (sub)divided on the basis of census (not gender). It’s unlikely that something good will come if values and people do not meet. It’s an undeniable rule. And it legitimately must be applied also to the debates on Europe. Apart from Finance and Institutions, unprecedentedly urgent concerns extend to ethical themes. What are the threats to life in contemporary Europe, considering that an abortion is taking place every 11 seconds? What role is being granted to the families? Is freedom of education truly ensured? These questions ought to be addressed in all spheres, extending beyond the mere legislative and regulatory environments, since they call into questions individual conscience. Upon the recurrence of March 8 it is worthwhile delving into the answers coming from women’s environments – too often unheard. Rather, this is where answers could be found if women were granted the opportunity of “having their say”, namely, of voicing their very own sensitivity. Indeed, when one speaks of abortion (reportedly, one every 11 seconds, but even if it were one per minute, figures would still be enormous), when one speaks of child education, when one speaks of family crisis, willingly or not women are always on the front line: for the good and for the bad. It is a question of giving priority to women also when legal answers must be given to social wounds. Their contribution would enrich the debate – and also raise its level in terms of quality and attention. Europe cannot afford overlooking this option, if it wishes to give meaning to its very own future. Life, freedom, ethics, conscience, solidarity and Europe: all of these nouns are declined in the female gender (in the Italian language, trans.’s note). This underlines, also allegorically, the importance of women’s participation in engendering the new Europe.