WOMEN’ S RIGHTS Generally speaking, the story regarding women ' s rights has been very troubled, before they had no freedom of thought or the right to vote, they had to submit to the will of the man who could be either the father or the husband. Of course there have been many steps forward from every point of view and, despite the fact that today women do not have the same chances of men, we have obtained some very important rights. We had the beginning in 1874 when women were allowed to attend high schools, gymnasiums and universities, then in 1882 women were allowed to work in public offices and open their first business. In 1919 we instead have a " step back " since a law is enacted, the law of marital authorisation, which prevented women from using their earnings without first the permission of their husband. Subsequently, however, on February 1, 1945, women who have already become adults acquire the right to vote and not only given that decree number 74 of March 10, 1946 provides for the possibility for them to run and be elected. In 1948, legal and marital equality with respect to children and at work is sanctioned. 1963 women are admitted to all public offices and in the judiciary. In 1970 with law n. 898 on divorce, women are allowed to separate from their spouses, 1975 there is a reform of family law that recognises women a condition of full equality with men. 1978 abortion ceases to be considered a crime. 1981 law no. 442 leads to the extinction of reparative marriage and the penalty for sexual violence. Obviously these are just a series of laws that were obtained thanks to the various revolts and protests carried out during those years by all those women who wanted to be masters of their lives, to be able to make decisions on their own for themselves without having to feel like slaves to their husbands, to be able to realise their dreams without being locked in the house.