Patriarchy on the canal: why is there only one female gondolier in Venice?
(The Guardian Italy)

A 24-year-old broke with 900 years of tradition when she passed the strict boating exam - but why have no other women joined her?For nearly a millennium Venice´s gondoliers were exclusively male. Locked in a tradition of handing down the prestigious role from father to son, it wasn´t until 2010 that 24-year-old Giorgia Boscolo turned the tide in a profession that has been a pillar of the ancient city since 1094.Boscolo followed in the footsteps of her father, Dante, who had been a gondolier for 40 years. She was granted the coveted licence to guide tourists through the city´s labyrinthine canals after passing a demanding six-month course. In doing so, she became the first officially recognised female gondoliera, finally breaking the mould in a guild that had long resisted women. Related: Occupy Turin: refugees find a home in Italy`s abandoned Olympic Village Continue reading...