When Children Were Pawns of the State

When it came to engaging (and controlling) the children of Fascist Italy, the state media was intent on separating boys from girls, but only ideologically. Boys were taught that fighting for the cause was a male requirement. One of the more famous Fascist slogans was “War is to the male what childbearing is to the female.” For girls giving birth was essential. Mothers who produced over a dozen children were treated to benefits by the Fascist government, including tax breaks.