FASCI FEMMINILI

The Fasci Femminili were organizations established by the P.N.F. for women.  They were social and charitable organizations which sought to promote the Party's ideas of the virtuous, domesticated Italian woman of the new empire.  These were headed by a Secretary on the national level, although the Fasci Femminili themselves had no say in Party affairs.  Instead, they were entirely subordinated to the Party but established a heirarchy within itself of women.

A Fascio was an organization, centered around a town, city, or a vicinity, and the women generally wore black uniforms similar to the P.N.F. jackets with a black hat.  Many variations existed from group to group, though within they tended towards uniformity.  The Fasci Femminili in peacetime ran drives for the poor, tried to gather local support for improvement projects, and disseminated Fascist ideology at the same time.  During the war, Fasci members would support their men at the front by knitting sweaters, sewing clothes, making up care packages, and filling other support roles.  The Italians did not militarize their women, preferring to keep them home, although as the war progressed, women's help was enlisted for things such as anti-aircraft protection to respond to attacks within Italian cities, clear affected areas, and so on.

The Legion itself does not allow women to join as legionaries for purposes of historical accuracy, however, women are more than welcome to join us in a support role either as a civilian, Fascio Femminile member, or Red Cross (Croce Rossa Italiana).