Katharine Goodwin on Licia Ronzulli

Katharine Goodwin is a junior Political Science major and serves as our Programming Intern this year. Next year, Katharine will continue to work with the Lieben Center as she takes on the role of Peer Education Intern. 

When people think of historical women, they name women from many many years ago. But I believe it is important to celebrate today’s women because it will make harder for history to erase them. 

It has long been a (incorrect) notion that women can be mothers or they can be professionals, but they cannot be both. While many historical women have proved this notion wrong, Licia Ronzulli is still fighting to prove to the world that you can do both.

Originally working in health management, Ronzulli was elected as the northwest Italian representation to the European Parliament in September 2009.  A year later she was became an international inspiration when she brought her then six weeks old daughter to work with her as a gesture for the rights of mothering women in the work force.  She said that this was not a political move, but rather a “maternal” one because she was still breastfeeding at the time.  She also highlighted many mothers struggle between daily choices between their child’s needs and their work demans.  Ronzulli did not stop bringing her daughter to work after that day. Her daughter has grown up attending parliament meetings with her mother and can be seen “helping” her mother vote on important policies. 

While she may not be as well known as other powerful women, Ronzulli plays an influential role in the work force.  She has defied sexist notions that women must choose between their job and their babies. She has found harmony between these two characteristics that affect many people.

Ronzulli has not only sparked discussion of what it means to be a working mother and the rights of working moms, but also proven to many people that you can have a demanding job and still attend to your children.  Not to mention she’s given her daughter a kick start to a life of politics.