During Mussolini’s rule of Italy, the country had a recreational organization called the Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro (the OND). While the main purpose of the OND under Mussolini was to promote Fascism, it was surprisingly progressive in that it allowed women to participate in “masculine” sports, which were normally limited to males only. However, the Catholic Church was opposed to this and pressured Mussolini’s government into barring female participation in any “masculine” activities. After all, Italian women might have started to think they could do manly sports like rowing *gasp*. That could turn female athletes into devil-worshiping lesbian heathens or something equally horrific! (Like skilled athletes?)
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