Writing Feminism on the Crossroads between England and Italy

The Case of Lucy Re Bartlett (1876–1922)

Abstract

This essay focuses on the life and work of Lucy Re Bartlett (1876-1922), an activist, philosopher, and writer who played an active role in the socio-political debates surrounding women’s rights and their place in society. As a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union, Re Bartlett was aligned with the more radical wing of the suffrage movement and promoted the militant tactics employed by English suffragettes, which she thoroughly analysed in her writings. After relocating to Italy, she soon established a connection with one of the country’s most influential editors of the time, Sofia Bisi Albini (1856-1919). The women’s periodical press became a vital platform for the dissemination of her progressive theories in Italy. This article aims to illustrate how Lucy Re Bartlett’s often controversial ideas intersected with and responded to Italian cultural and political dynamics, contributing to the development of a new progressive vision of femininity, motherhood, and the broader role of women in society. Finally, it analyses the impact of the First World War on her journalistic output and how the conflict gave added impetus to her revolutionary work.