On Saturday, November 30th, at 5 pm, the Auditorium San Carlo in Albenga will host a conference titled “Everyday Life of Women in Our Region Through the Centuries.” Conceived by Sandra Berriolo, the event is organized by the Centro Antiviolenza Artemisia Gentileschi and the Associazione Cosavuoichetilegga, with the sponsorship of the Comune di Albenga and logistical support from the Fondazione Oddi. This gathering is part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women celebrations, observed on November 25th.
The conference will feature contributions from Prof. Giovanni Puerari, Prof. Mario Moscardini, Sandra Berriolo, and Gerry Delfino. These experts will provide insights into anecdotes from the 16th to the 20th century, relying on archival sources and historically reliable data. The aim is to place the lives of women from past centuries within their socio-economic context.
The everyday life of the 1500s in Alassio, often marked by disputes and intrigues, will be explored, along with stories from notarial records about women’s experiences in the village of Erli during the 1600s. The conference will then examine life in Albenga from the 1700s to the 1900s, highlighting the resilience, strength, and determination displayed by women during this period.
Sandra Berriolo states, “My intention was to highlight the contributions of ordinary women, setting aside heroines, artists, or pioneers in any field. We want to remember the impact women had on history with their daily lives, even when it was fraught with conflict or pain.” Using secular and Church administrative records, wills, and criminal records, the event aims to reconstruct the lives of women in past centuries without resorting to inventions or literary fantasies.
Laura Dagnino, president of the Centro Antiviolenza Artemisia Gentileschi, expresses gratitude to Sandra Berriolo for involving the center in this initiative. “We will listen to the contributions, assured that there will also be references to the persecution of ‘witches,’ when women were socially discriminated against and denounced by fellow villagers, sometimes tortured for using plants to treat illnesses or owning a black cat.” Dagnino emphasizes the importance of being active in the community during the 16 days of activism against gender violence, from November 25th to December 5th.
The scheduled presentations include: Giovanni Puerari discussing women’s conditions between the 16th and 17th centuries; Sandra Berriolo sharing stories from Erli between the 16th and 18th centuries; Mario Moscardini focusing on women in Albenga from the 18th to the 20th century; and Gerry Delfino exploring women in Albenga families during the 20th century.
