Donne, ’ndrangheta, ’ndrine : gli spazi femminili nelle fonti giudiziarie

Women cannot formally take part in the so called «honored society». In other words, they cannot be affiliated through the initiation rite. However, they have been involved in the ʼndrangheta by performing a traditional role – including transmitting mafia values, encouraging vendetta, guaranteeing men’s honour, participating in prescribed marriages – and by carrying out mafia activities. After a brief historical reconstruction of the changes in the ʼndrangheta’s structure, the essay explores the presence of women in the criminal organization by comparing two antimafia police operations carried out by the Direzione investigativa antimafia of Reggio Calabria (Artemisia, in 2009, and Il Crimine in 2010). The analysis brings the author to maintain that women are involved in the ʼndrine – the core of the criminal association based on family groups –, while are absent in the high sphere of the ʼndrangheta power. By describing the numerous and significant roles of women within the mafia families and by observing that women are not allowed to take part in decisional meetings or to assume leadership positions, the essay reflects upon the ambiguities behind the notion of female power in the ʼndrangheta.