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ILEIID 2025 | International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
ISSN: 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS
Special Issue | Volume IX Issue XXII October 2025
The Ideological Battle Over Gendered Nouns in Contemporary
Italian
Piermauro Catarinella¹*, Suhardi Kram
2
¹Academy of Language Studies, UiTM Shah Alam, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation, Samarahan, UiTM Sarawak, Malaysia
*Corresponding Author
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.922ILEIID005
Received: 22 September 2025; Accepted: 30 September 2025; Published: 22 October 2025
ABSTRACT
After decades of feminist advocacy, gender equality in the Italian language has ostensibly been achieved, as
academic titles, professional designations, and political roles can now be expressed in both masculine and
feminine forms. Nevertheless, many women continue to employ masculine nouns to identify themselves, as
they have historically done. This study examines the motivations underlying this choice and its perceived
connection to patriarchy. Adopting a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on press articles,
televised debates, and published interviews with those women, including politicians, who prefer to adopt
masculine terms when referring to themselves, in order to assess whether the application of masculine nouns
for women in professional and political contexts is both linguistically correct and socially accepted. The
findings reveal that, in written and spoken Italian, employing the masculine form to designate women is not
only grammatically valid but also remains the most widespread practice among speakers. However, women
who adopt masculine terms for self-reference are frequently criticized by radical feminist groups, who portray
them as misogynistic, patriarchal, or even aligned with fascist traditions. In contrast, this research demonstrates
that such linguistic preferences often represent an autonomous and deliberate exercise of personal freedom,
rather than submission to external pressures. The study concludes that enforcing the exclusive use of feminine
nouns to describe women’s professional or political roles reflects an ideological position rather than a
linguistic necessity, serving primarily as a tool for political confrontation.
Keywords: Feminism and Language, Gendered Language, Italian Grammar, Language and Ideology,
Linguistic Identity
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, radical feminist movements, supported by left-wing political forces, have argued that Italian
society remains deeply embedded in patriarchal structures, where women continue to be marginalized and their
social roles undervalued. This critique extends to the Italian language, which is often portrayed as failing to
adequately recognize women’s contributions (Camilli, 2024). A striking example is the predominance of
masculine nouns for certain professions and political positions. Historically, Italian has employed masculine
forms to denote roles such as avvocato (lawyer), medico (physician), sindaco (mayor), and ministro (minister).
This linguistic practice persisted even after Italian society underwent profound transformations beginning with
the 1968 “sexual revolution”. Despite the fact that men and women today share equal rights and
responsibilities across economic, social, scientific, legal, and political spheres, masculine forms have largely
remained the default (Voltolina, 2024; Bednarek, 2023).
From a grammatical perspective, Italian typically distinguishes masculine nouns ending in “o” from feminine
ones ending in “a”, notwithstanding certain exceptions. In contemporary society, where women increasingly
occupy high-level professions and political offices, feminist activists argue that the continued reliance on
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masculine terms is no longer acceptable. They contend that such usage reinforces a form of “linguistic
patriarchy” that mirrors and perpetuates broader societal inequalities. For this reason, they advocate for the
adoption of feminine equivalents—avvocata (female lawyer), medica (female physician), sindaca (female
mayor), and ministra (female minister)—as essential steps toward dismantling patriarchal structures. Yet, this
claim has been challenged as paradoxical. Recent analyses indicate that men and women already participate in
virtually every profession, albeit in differing proportions, which raises doubts about equating linguistic
practices with systemic oppression (Cimino, 2024). However, this debate has moved beyond the realm of
grammar, fueling political polarization. Radical feminists, supported by progressive parties, often clash with
conservative groups and women who themselves prefer the traditional masculine forms. The linguistic
question thus becomes a symbolic battleground in Italy’s wider ideological struggle.
The issue is further complicated by structural features of Italian. If, as radical feminists maintain, every
masculine noun must have a feminine equivalent to ensure women’s visibility, linguistic scholars highlight
counterexamples. Certain nouns, though ending in “a” and appearing feminine, can denote both men and
women. These include elettricista (electrician), camionista (truck driver), autista (driver), poeta (poet), pilota
(pilot), and patriota (patriot). Such words fall into the category of “ambigender” nouns, with their usage
clarified by the definite article—il pilota (male pilot) or la pilota (female pilot). To impose an ideologically
driven consistency, one might be compelled to introduce new masculine forms such as piloto, elettricisto, or
camionisto—terms that are nonexistent in contemporary Italian. Thus, describing a male professional with a
noun that appears feminine does not diminish his gender identity unless the language is manipulated
ideologically, disregarding its inherent grammatical rules (Mondani, 2025).
LITERATURE REVIEW
In recent decades, the issue of gender equality has increasingly extended into the realm of language, where the
use of feminine forms for professional titles has become a central concern. In the Italian context, many
professions—such as avvocato (lawyer) and medico (physician)—have historically been expressed in the
masculine form, even when referring to women. This practice reflects deeply entrenched cultural and linguistic
traditions, but it has also generated a contentious debate. On one side, advocates argue that language should
evolve in step with social change, contending that the systematic use of feminine forms disrupts gender
stereotypes and enhances the visibility of women in roles traditionally associated with men. On the other side,
critics insist that the masculine form functions as a neutral category within Italian grammar and that altering it
risks undermining the coherence and fluidity of the language. According to this perspective, the introduction of
feminine variants is unnecessary and potentially divisive, given that it does not address broader issues of
inclusivity, particularly those concerning non-binary and other marginalized identities (Gheno, 2020).
Supporters of feminization emphasize its symbolic and social significance. By naming professions in the
feminine, they argue, language acknowledges and legitimizes women’s presence in spheres historically
dominated by men, thereby advancing both equality and representational justice. Conversely, detractors
maintain that Italian already possesses a consolidated linguistic structure and that the so-called “extended
masculine” should not be interpreted as discriminatory but rather as a grammatically neutral form. For these
scholars, the call for feminization risks overstating linguistic reform as a solution to complex social
inequalities (Zonta, 2025).
Recent scholarship has challenged the assumption that feminization is a purely contemporary phenomenon. In
2024, Michele Cortellazzo of the University of Florence published a historical study entitled La
femminilizzazione dei nomi di professione e di cariche. Un problema recente? (The Feminization of Profession
and Office Names. A Recent Problem?). In this work, Cortellazzo documented the feminization of professional
titles, including prestigious occupations, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He demonstrates that as
early as 1851, the Italian language included feminine forms designating professions held by women. His
findings undermine two common arguments: first, that professional titles are firmly established as masculine;
and second, that the demand for feminization originates from modern feminist ideologies. Instead, Cortellazzo
reveals that feminine forms such as dottoressa (medical doctor), scienziata (scientist), professoressa
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(professor), and architetta (architect) were historically used without significant controversy, suggesting that
resistance to them today is less about linguistic norms and more about cultural and ideological opposition.
Similarly, Ilaria Usalla of the University of Cagliari, in her 2023 comparative study Femininizations dei nomi
di professioni e cariche in italiano e spagnolo (Feminization of Profession and Office Names in Italian and
Spanish), highlights the extent to which the debate transcends questions of grammar. Usalla argues that the
controversy surrounding feminine nouns has acquired a pronounced political dimension, often disconnected
from purely linguistic considerations. In Italy, the issue remains highly contentious and frequently resurfaces
in public discourse, with institutions, the media, and linguists adopting polarized positions. Usalla further
observes that language is often deployed as an instrument in broader cultural and ideological struggles,
reinforcing divisions between conservative and progressive forces. This dynamic situates the linguistic debate
within a wider political landscape, where the symbolic value of words is as consequential as their grammatical
function.
Further confirmation of this perspective comes from the recent work of Anita Perra (2025), who underscores
that the choice between masculine and feminine forms is rarely a matter of linguistic precision alone. Rather, it
functions as a vehicle for political and ideological positioning. Perra’s findings demonstrate how language
becomes a site of contestation where competing visions of society—whether progressive or conservative—
assert themselves through seemingly grammatical choices. Her study illustrates how the discussion over
professional titles is emblematic of broader ideological struggles in contemporary Italy, where linguistic
practices both reflect and shape ongoing debates about gender, power, and identity. Although much of the
scholarly debate centers on the Italian case, it is important to recognize that these controversies are not
confined to Italy alone. Similar ideological tensions emerge in other Romance languages, such as Spanish and
French, which share a grammatical system that distinctly marks nouns and professional titles as masculine and
feminine. In these contexts, too, the struggle over feminization reflects more than questions of linguistic
accuracy; it is tied to broader disputes about gender equality, cultural identity, and political representation. The
Italian debate therefore forms part of a wider pattern in Romance-language societies, where grammar and
ideology intersect, and where linguistic choices serve as powerful symbols of social transformation and
resistance. Building on these scholarly insights, the present study examines how debates over linguistic
feminization unfold within the Italian context, with particular attention to institutional decisions, cultural
resistance, and ideological tensions. By situating current controversies within their historical precedents and
within the framework of ongoing social and political debates, the research seeks to clarify the extent to which
language reform in Italy is shaped not only by grammatical conventions but also by broader political, cultural,
and identity-related dynamics.
Research Aims and Questions
This study investigates the extent to which feminine forms of professional titles and high-ranking political
positions—already codified in authoritative Italian dictionaries—have been adopted within the broader Italian-
speaking community, and whether their usage reflects genuine linguistic integration or primarily ideological
positioning.
The study has three main aims:
1. To evaluate whether the continued use of masculine nouns to denote women’s professional and
political roles can be considered linguistically acceptable and an expression of individual choice.
2. To examine the social and cultural factors contributing to the criticism directed at women who
prefer masculine forms when referring to their own professional titles or political positions.
3. To analyze the underlying ideological perspectives that shape debates on gendered language in
contemporary Italian society.
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To achieve these objectives, the research is guided by the following questions:
1. To what extent can the use of masculine forms to identify women’s professions and political roles
be considered grammatically valid and a legitimate expression of personal preference?
2. How is language currently mobilized in debates on gender and politics, and to what degree is it
employed as a tool for advancing specific ideological agendas?
3. What significant developments and points of contention have characterized feminist movements
and language-related debates in Italy over the past two years?
By addressing these questions, the study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the broader
sociopolitical and linguistic debates surrounding gender, identity, and language use in Italy.
METHODOLOGY
This study adopts a qualitative research approach, employing a case study methodology, which is particularly
appropriate for investigating the use of masculine nouns in Italian when referring to female individuals, their
professions, and their political roles. A qualitative case study design was chosen because it allows for a
nuanced exploration of language practices within their cultural, political, and ideological contexts. Unlike
quantitative or mixed-methods approaches, which emphasize breadth and statistical patterns, a qualitative
design captures the subtleties of discourse, identity negotiation, and power relations that are central to
understanding the gendered dynamics of the Italian language. This approach enables an in-depth exploration of
the linguistic, social, and ideological implications of gendered language. The research includes several key
components for data collection:
1. Linguistic Analysis: A formal analysis of masculine-gendered nouns used for professions and political
positions in Italian, focusing on those traditionally applied to both men and women.
2. Media Review: An examination of contemporary newspaper articles published between 2023 and 2025,
including both progressive outlets (e.g., Il Manifesto) and conservative ones (e.g., Il Giornale), to
assess how feminist ideology may be shaping the use of gendered language and influencing public
discourse.
3. Expert and Affected Voices: A review of studies by linguists, as well as interviews with women
directly impacted by these linguistic changes, providing insights into their perspectives on the adoption
of feminine equivalents for traditionally masculine terms.
This methodology allows for a comprehensive understanding of how language, gender, and ideology intersect
in contemporary Italian society.
LIMITATIONS
Despite its strengths, this methodology has several limitations. First, the selection of media sources, while
balanced between progressive and conservative outlets, may still introduce interpretive bias, as media
discourse inevitably reflects ideological positions. Second, the reliance on publicly available materials and
interviews restricts access to confidential policy documents or internal decision-making processes that could
provide a fuller account of institutional dynamics. Finally, as this study is framed as a case study within the
Italian context, its findings are not universally generalizable. Nonetheless, the insights generated may
demonstrate transferability to other Romance languages or societies undergoing comparable debates on gender
and linguistic reform.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
The Accademia della Crusca, Italy’s most prestigious institution dedicated to safeguarding the purity and
correctness of the Italian language, including its everyday usage, has issued two significant scientific
opinions—dated March 9, 2023, and September 9, 2024—affirming that the use of feminine forms to designate
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jobs, professions, or political roles held by women is fully legitimate. Accordingly, these feminine forms have
been incorporated into all major linguistic dictionaries. However, the choice to employ the feminine form
cannot be mandated; it must remain a matter of individual discretion. From a technical linguistic perspective,
the use of the masculine form is equally legitimate and correct, as the focus is on the function performed or the
office held, rather than the gender of the individual (D’Achille et al., 2024).
Prominent linguists observe that feminine terms for professional and political roles are not yet widely adopted
by the Italian-speaking community. The majority of Italians—including journalists, television hosts, writers,
and ordinary citizens—continue to prefer the masculine form. In this context, the masculine serves a quasi-
neutral function, emphasizing the position or role itself rather than the individual’s gender (Vallauri, 2025).
Some scholars argue that using masculine nouns universally does not undermine gender equality; for example,
referring to a female minister as ministro does not diminish her authority or the importance of her office.
Linguistic traditions that have developed over centuries cannot be overturned solely by a minority advocating
reform. Furthermore, many Italian speakers may avoid forms such as ministra because they phonetically
resemble other common Italian words—in this case, minestra (soup). This close similarity in sound can
potentially lead to ambiguity or misunderstanding in spoken communication, which contributes to the
continued preference for the traditional masculine form, ministro, when referring to female ministers (Beretta,
2024).
Nevertheless, this phonetic objection carries limited linguistic significance. In most communicative contexts,
meaning is clarified by syntax and situational cues, making genuine ambiguity highly unlikely. Scholars,
therefore, are inclined to regard the alleged awkwardness associated with ministra primarily as cultural or
psychological resistance to change, rather than as a substantive linguistic impediment. In this sense, the
argument functions primarily as a rhetorical device for legitimizing continued reliance on the masculine form
rather than as evidence of an actual communicative deficiency. Nevertheless, as the feminine variant may gain
wider circulation in political, institutional, and media discourse, such reservations are expected to diminish,
mirroring the gradual normalization of other neologisms that were initially contested but later became widely
accepted. At the same time, the ultimate decision rests with speakers themselves: the adoption of ministra, like
other feminized professional titles, should emerge organically through usage rather than through prescriptive
imposition, ensuring that linguistic change reflects the preferences of the speech community as a whole
(Pollicino & Zanot, 2021).
This broader perspective also aligns with the view of many linguists, who emphasize that language evolves
organically and cannot be artificially imposed on the population. Many women, affirming their gender identity,
deliberately retain traditional masculine nouns as a formal convention, reflecting longstanding structural
patterns in the Italian language (Pili, 2024). For instance, current female ministers Eugenia Maria Roccella and
Anna Maria Bernini have expressed a preference for being addressed as ministro rather than ministra,
emphasizing their institutional role and professional competence over gender distinction (Castigliani, 2024).
Figure 1. Minister Eugenia Maria Roccella is addressed as Ministro on May 17, 2024, illustrating the use
of masculine nouns for female officeholders.
(Source: https://www.consulentidellavoro.tv/watch.php?vid=e11cfb843)
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Figure 2. Minister Anna Maria Bernini is addressed as Ministro on November 27, 2024, showing the
continued use of masculine forms for women in high political positions.
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qSNanT0YRM)
In December 2023, during a televised debate broadcast on Piazza Pulita, attorney Annamaria Bernardini De
Pace expressed her preference to be referred to using the masculine term avvocato. She emphasized that, in her
profession, what matters most are legal expertise and technical competence, rather than gender. According to
Bernardini De Pace, the role and abilities of a lawyer transcend the distinction between male and female.
During the interview, she explicitly stated that she wishes to be recognized as a lawyer based on her
professional qualifications, not her gender, and that the masculine term avvocato effectively conveys this
emphasis (La 7, 2023).
Figure 3: Attorney Annamaria Bernardini De Pace is addressed using the masculine term avvocato.
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(Source: https://www.la7.it/piazzapulita/video/bernardini-de-pace-non-amo-farmi-chiamare-avvocata-
sono-avvocato-07-12-2023-517734)
Anna Cisint, the combative mayor of Monfalcone, a town in northeastern Italy, has consistently expressed her
preference for the masculine term sindaco, arguing that disputes over noun endings (“o” for masculine and “a”
for feminine) represent a largely ideological conflict that needlessly complicates political debate between
progressive and conservative forces (Garau, 2024).
Figure 4. Mayor Anna Cisint is addressed using the masculine term sindaco.
(Source: https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/minacce-sindaco-monfalcone-battaglia-contro-degrado-
segno-2290530.html)
Even the Italian Undersecretary of Defense, Isabella Rauti, expresses a preference for the masculine term
Sottosegretario rather than the feminine Sottosegretaria, citing respect for Italian linguistic tradition, as
evidenced in her message posted on July 16, 2025.
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Figure 5. Isabella Rauti is referred to as Sottosegretario di Stato ally Difesa (Undersecretary of Defense).
Source: https://x.com/isabellarauti/status/1945208556929610131)
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On August 3, 2023, Senator Antonella Zedda requested that the President of the Senate of the Italian Republic
address her using the masculine term Senatore rather than the feminine Senatrice. In her impassioned
statement, she emphasized that all politicians, regardless of gender, are called to serve citizens, and that
disputes over masculine and feminine forms of titles risk undermining the credibility of Italian political
institutions (Romeo, 2023).
Figure 6. Senator Antonella Zedda is addressed using the masculine term Senatore, representing the
political party Fratelli d’Italia. (Source: https://www.lacronaca24.it/2025/05/30/zeddavogliamo-cagliari-
completamente-digitalizzata-e-meno-burocrazia/)
The analysis above highlights that the decision of some women to employ masculine nouns when referring to
their professional or political roles is not only linguistically correct, as affirmed by the Accademia della
Crusca, but also grounded in personal motivations that merit respect, even if contested by others. This
underscores the principle that language use, particularly regarding gendered forms, should reflect individual
agency rather than external pressure. In choosing masculine terms, many women emphasize the functional
role, professional competence, and institutional authority associated with their position, rather than their
gender, signaling that their professional identity is not subordinate to linguistic conventions. Conversely, other
women holding prominent political positions may prefer the use of feminine forms to describe their roles, as
exemplified by the current leader of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, who is addressed as La Segretaria (the
leader). Both practices—using masculine or feminine terms—are legitimate expressions of personal choice,
and the right of women to opt for the masculine form, such as Segretario, when referring to themselves must
be preserved. Respecting this freedom ensures that linguistic norms accommodate diversity in personal
preferences and professional identities, rather than imposing a uniform standard, and reinforces the broader
principle that women’s self-identification in language should remain a matter of autonomous decision-making.
Ultimately, honoring these individual choices contributes to a more inclusive and pluralistic understanding of
gender representation in Italian society, acknowledging that empowerment lies in the ability to decide how one
is linguistically recognized, rather than in adhering to externally dictated norms (Mariconda, 2025).
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Figure 7. The leader of the Italian Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, is addressed using the strictly
feminine term La Segretaria (ending in “a”). (Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyJI6h2pdF0)
Figure 8. Following her election, the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero refers to Elly Schlein using the
masculine term il nuovo segretario (the new leader).
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(Source: https://www.ilmessaggero.it/politica/elly_schlein_chi_e_eta_marito_figli_segretario_pd_prim
arie_pd-7255099.html)
Nevertheless, the debate over whether professions or political positions held by women should be referred to
using masculine or feminine terms, and which form should take precedence, appears to engage only a small
segment of the Italian population. Evidence from two surveys conducted in 2024 by Euromedia Research and
Termometro Politico—both prominent polling institutes—indicates that more than 80% of Italians, across
genders and aged 18 to 70 from diverse social and educational backgrounds, perceive patriarchy as having
been largely eradicated in Italy, as well as in other Western countries. These surveys, carried out using the
CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing) method and encompassing a sample of approximately four
million respondents, confirm the broad consensus on this issue. Consequently, the discourse surrounding the
use of feminine nouns is often interpreted as an ideological initiative led by a small, radical-feminist minority,
with limited resonance among the general populace (Aiuti, 2024).
Despite this, progressive left-wing political actors and radical feminist advocacy groups have leveraged the
linguistic debate for political purposes. They assert that individuals who continue to use masculine nouns when
referring to women should be characterized as “fascist” or “reactionary”, allegedly seeking to perpetuate
societal patriarchy and undermine women’s rights (Ocone, 2024). In particular, women who adopt masculine
nouns to describe their roles or professions are sometimes labeled not only as fascist but also as misogynistic,
purportedly demonstrating animosity toward their own gender and allegedly contributing to societal issues
such as femicide. This interpretation, however, is fundamentally flawed. First, statistical data indicate that Italy
has one of the lowest rates of femicide in the European Union. Second, contemporary research in psychiatry
and criminology shows that the causes of gender-based violence are complex and multifactorial, rather than
directly attributable to the existence or absence of a patriarchal social structure (Accardi, 2025). Therefore, the
ideological framing linking linguistic choices to systemic oppression or increased gender violence lacks
empirical support and does not reflect the broader realities of contemporary Italian society (Carlino, 2025).
The intensity of the linguistic and political pressures exerted by radical feminist groups is exemplified in the
striking case of an Italian journalist who, during a televised program, referred to Kamala Harris as un
candidato alla presidenza degli Stati Uniti (a candidate for President of the United States). By using the
masculine term candidato rather than the feminine candidata, he became the target of immediate verbal
harassment and was ultimately removed from the studio. The journalist, visibly intimidated by the reaction,
attempted to clarify his position, emphasizing that while he fundamentally respects gender differences, he
chose to use the masculine form in that specific context to exercise his freedom of speech. He made no
ideological claim, merely observing that, in Italian, both the feminine candidata and masculine candidato are
grammatically correct when referring to a female candidate. This linguistic flexibility is reflected in formal
contexts such as public competitive examinations, where the masculine candidato is routinely employed in a
neutral sense to refer to individuals of any gender, and thus its use cannot be considered incorrect (Romano,
2024). A further illustration of linguistic abrupt changes is evident in the contemporary reinterpretation of
International Women’s Day, traditionally celebrated on March 8th. Certain progressive factions have
attempted to modify Italian for this occasion, changing Otto (eight) to Otta—a term without conventional
meaning—and Marzo (March) to Marza, a word that in Italian has a completely different meaning, referring to
a botanical word denoting a twig or bud used for grafting. This alteration fundamentally distorts the language,
rendering the resulting expressions largely incomprehensible to speakers. Proponents argue that cardinal
numbers and month names ending in the vowel “o” represent masculine forms and reflect a patriarchal
linguistic structure (D’Angelo, 2025). However, this extreme modification demonstrates how ideological
interventions can disrupt familiar language conventions, highlighting the tension between symbolic gestures
and practical linguistic comprehension.
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Figure 9. Former President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini, a prominent advocate of
radical feminist ideas, alters Otto Marzo (March 8th) to the non-existent Otta Marza. (Source:
https://x.com/boldrinideclina/status/574648529928454147)
Feminist ideological extremism has also manifested at the University of Trento. With the approval of the
Board of Directors, the institution introduced new regulations implementing the so-called “expanded feminine
form”—a linguistic construction absent from standard Italian—for official titles and gender references. Terms
such as “the dean”, “the rector”, “the professor”, and “the candidate” are now systematically rendered in the
feminine form, even when referring to male officeholders. Students, free from any ideological agenda, opposed
this policy, arguing that the extreme feminization of all terms intensifies gender polarization without providing
any tangible benefit to the institution. They maintained that such a rigid linguistic reform risks fostering
unnecessary conflict between genders rather than promoting inclusivity, and that the choice of masculine or
feminine terms should remain a matter of personal preference rather than an imposed standard (Giovenale,
2024).
Radical left-wing feminist groups, however, often expose inconsistencies in their advocacy. While highly
focused on the battle over masculine and feminine suffixes in nouns, they frequently remain silent regarding
sexual assaults committed by illegal immigrants against young women. Data from the Ministry of the Interior
indicate that 70% of crimes involving female victims are perpetrated by individuals who arrived illegally in
Italy. This selective silence highlights their alignment with left-wing policies favoring open and largely
uncontrolled immigration, prioritizing a political agenda over the safety and rights of women (Canepa, 2024).
At the same time, these groups accuse conservative political forces of perpetuating patriarchy, yet they
themselves engage in a form of obscurantist sexism, directing criticism at female professionals based on their
appearance rather than their achievements. A prominent example occurred in July 2025 when Professor
Gabriella Greison, an accomplished physicist, was invited to speak on quantum physics at the University of
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Messina during an outdoor ceremonial event with temperatures reaching 41 degrees Celsius. Rather than
highlighting her scholarly contribution, radical feminist commentators focused on her low-cut summer dress,
issuing derogatory and sexist remarks. Observers have noted that a genuinely consistent feminist perspective
should recognize and celebrate her accomplishments as a leading female scientist, rather than focusing on her
attire—a form of scrutiny that feminism itself has long sought to challenge (Damiata, 2025).
Historically, left-wing forces governed Italy uninterruptedly from the post-war period until 2022, successfully
establishing a form of cultural hegemony across sectors such as television, publishing, academia, the judiciary,
journalism, trade unions, the press, and the intellectual sphere. Following their electoral defeat in September
2022, this cultural influence increasingly appears intertwined with efforts to politically and morally
delegitimize opponents. In this context, political assessments frequently assume an ethical or moral dimension
that is treated as dogmatic and unquestionable, with dissenters labeled as reactionary, conservative,
obscurantist, or, more broadly, “fascist”. Language itself becomes a tool in these conflicts, deployed
strategically to reinforce ideological positions and attempt to regain lost political authority (Merlo, 2025).
Scholars analyzing current electoral trends have observed that left-wing forces now exist in an ideological
bubble, largely detached from broader societal realities, and persistently invoke the specter of fascism, which
ceased to exist over eighty years ago, while disregarding contemporary circumstances (Carrazza, 2025).Some
liberal commentators have observed that the term “fascist” is now greatly overused (Mascheroni, 2025), giving
rise to a new colloquial definition: Fascismo è tutto ciò che non piace al Pd (Anything that the left-wing
political forces do not appreciate is considered fascist). Examples include: Tutti quelli che non sono del Pd;
pericolo fascismo (Those who do not align with the Left represent the return of the fascist dictatorship) and
Quando il Pd cala nei consensi; deriva fascista (When the Left loses electoral consensus, a fascist drift
ensues).
Ultimately, women’s rights and professional recognition do not depend on the imposition of specific linguistic
forms. The use of masculine or feminine terms to refer to professions or political roles should remain an
autonomous, personal choice, respected regardless of ideological pressures. Adopting the masculine form for
certain positions, even when referring to women, does not constitute patriarchy but rather affirms the principle
of individual freedom in language use (Gravino, 2025).
CONCLUSION
The ideological battle over masculine and feminine suffixes waged by radical feminist groups is unlikely to
succeed, as evidenced by surveys conducted in 2024 by Euromedia Research and Termometro Politico, which
indicate that over 80% of Italians, across genders and ages 18–70, consider these debates largely irrelevant.
While ideological motivations may play a prominent role in political discourse, they lack a substantive basis in
the principles of linguistics. This does not preclude the possibility that newly coined terms could gradually
enter common usage; however, such adoption must emerge organically and spontaneously to be linguistically
effective. When attempts at change are imposed top-down by an ideologically driven minority, rather than
arising naturally within the speech community, they are unlikely to produce meaningful results, as emphasized
by the Accademia della Crusca (Librandi, 2024).
To date, the convention of using masculine terms for intellectual professions and institutional roles—
regardless of the individual’s gender—remains firmly established. Nevertheless, the intensity of the ongoing
debate demonstrates that linguistic practices are intertwined with social, cultural, and political dimensions,
which merit independent analysis. The findings highlight that this struggle over linguistic forms reflects a
broader agenda of political correctness, a hallmark of radical leftist movements, which has constrained
freedom of expression in Italy and other Western countries. For decades, left-wing political forces have
prioritized the expression of progressive ideas while marginalizing opposing viewpoints, creating a form of
mainstream thought reminiscent of authoritarian control. The approach adopted by radical feminist groups
mirrors this logic: it seeks to limit individuals’ ability to freely choose, based on their personal cultural, social,
and political context, whether to use masculine or feminine terms for women’s professional and political roles
(Salvatore, 2025).
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Ultimately, women’s professional recognition and rights should not depend on imposed linguistic conventions.
The choice to use masculine or feminine terms must remain an autonomous, personal decision, reflecting
individual freedom rather than ideological pressure. Respecting this freedom is essential for upholding liberal
democratic values, ensuring civil coexistence, and safeguarding the principle that every individual retains the
right to express themselves without coercion (Del Papa, 2025).
Implications, Limitations And Future Research
This study has focused primarily on the Italian context, where the debate on gendered nouns has become a site
of ideological conflict. Yet similar controversies are also present in other European languages, particularly
French, Spanish, and German. In these contexts, national linguistic institutions such as the Académie
Française in France, the Real Academia Española in Spain, and the Institute für Deutsche Sprache in
Germany, have engaged in discussions on the feminization of professional and political titles. These cross-
linguistic debates demonstrate that the issue is not uniquely Italian but part of a broader European trend, while
at the same time shaped by the particular historical, cultural, and political trajectories of each country
(Rossitto, 2024).
In Italy, the debate has acquired distinctive intensity following the September 2022 national elections, when
conservative forces won a parliamentary majority and formed the government, abruptly ending decades of
continuous left-wing governance (Baccini, 2022). Against this backdrop, feminist groups and left-leaning
actors have increasingly mobilized the issue of linguistic feminization as part of their broader opposition to the
ruling coalition. By contrast, in countries such as France, Spain, and Germany—where left-leaning parties
have persistently wielded greater political influence—the debate has often unfolded with less overt
polarization, though it remains deeply tied to questions of cultural identity and gender equality (Parenzo,
2024).
Future research should therefore broaden the comparative perspective, examining how different linguistic
traditions, institutional interventions, and political contexts shape the acceptance or resistance of feminized
forms. Such inquiry could clarify whether the Italian situation represents an exceptional case or instead reflects
one manifestation of a recurring pattern in Western European democracies where language, gender, and
politics intersect.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors did not receive any financial support for conducting, writing, and publishing this study.
Conflicts Of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known financial or personal conflicts of interest that could have
influenced the work reported in this study.
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