Ancient roots, modern struggles: gender-based violence between cultural heritage and reforms
This article has the sole aim of providing some historical insights into the condition and role of women, from ancient Rome to the present day, highlighting the first milestones achieved. It does not, of course, claim to exhaust a vast topic—for which even entire lifetimes of study would not suffice—but seeks to offer a lens through which to read the cultural roots that still influence contemporary reality.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, only 68.8% of the gender gap has been closed worldwide: strong inequalities remain, especially in economic participation and political representation. This figure invites reflection on the fact that equality is not yet a point of arrival, but a fragile process requiring historical memory and collective commitment.
Ancient Rome: institutional forms of control
In ancient Rome, the status of women was defined by legal institutions and family practices that privileged male control: patria potestas and the power of the pater familias, rules on marriage and adultery, as well as social evaluations of decorum, created contexts in which female sexuality was regulated and often subjected to tolerated or inadequately punished violence. Although there are examples of influential women and political agents, the Roman legal and symbolic framework tended to normalize asymmetric power relations between genders.
From the Middle Ages to the Modern Age: continuity of meaning
With Christianization and the consolidation of canon law, many control practices were reformed but not eliminated: the concept of family honor, the limitation of female autonomy, and the centrality of motherhood remained central. Social sanctions—shame, exclusion, and blame—often functioned as a parallel form of coercion to legal punishments, making violence less visible but no less effective.
Major changes: political rights and feminisms
The most evident structural change came with civil rights movements: patriots and feminists of the 19th and 20th centuries built an alternative narrative of citizenship. In Italy, women’s involvement in the Resistance and the post-war debate led to the recognition of women’s suffrage—the first opportunity for mass political participation in 1946—a symbol of both constitutional and cultural change.
Law, rights, and reality: achievements and limits
In recent decades, the Italian state has introduced significant reforms to combat gender-based violence. Among the most important: the redefinition of the crime of sexual violence in the 1990s, which shifted the focus from public morality to the protection of self-determination; the 2009 law introducing the crime of stalking; and Law No. 119 of 2013, which strengthened victim protection and sped up legal proceedings, in line with the Istanbul Convention. These steps have transformed criminal law, recognizing domestic and sexual violence as crimes against the person. However, legal progress alone cannot erase the cultural roots of the phenomenon. Stereotypes that minimize violence or frame it as a private matter persist, fueled by legacies of control and sometimes distorted media narratives. Positive outcomes—the increase in anti-violence centers, operator training, and growing public awareness—indicate change is underway, but the path to genuine equality in rights and perceptions is still long.
Why ancient conceptions persist
Many of the ideas that fuel violence today—such as the control of female sexuality or the link between honor and domination—have deep roots. They survive because they are reproduced through everyday practices, communication, and education. Economic subordination, stereotypical media representation, and lack of education on respect consolidate these ancient patterns. Breaking these models requires integrated policies that combine law, education, and culture.
Conclusion and perspectives
The fight against gender-based violence is simultaneously legal, cultural, and educational. Priority actions include: integrating education on equality and consent into school curricula; strengthening victim services with stable resources; guaranteeing mandatory training for healthcare workers, law enforcement, and magistrates; supporting cultural campaigns that deconstruct stereotypes. Only in this way can society transform reforms into everyday behavior, overcoming centuries of inequality disguised as normality. Understanding history is not just about remembering, but about consciously choosing how to create change.