Fascist Femininities: Models of Womanhood in the Romanian National Legionary State

Abstract

This paper aims at discerning the models of fascist femininity endorsed by the Romanian National Legionary State. It consists in a quantitative content analysis performed on articles published in the regime’s official newspaper, Cuvântul, in a permanent column addressed to women. The findings point out the prevalence of the traditional model of “domestic womanhood” over the masculinized model of “warrior femalehood.” This quantitative approach grounded on content analysis is complemented by a qualitative approach based on a visual analysis of women’s depiction in the Legion’s printed press. Visual commercials, product advertising featuring women and other depictions of female figures reveal a third, heterodox, type of womanhood that we suggest calling “Legionary chic.” Based on these findings, the study concludes by pointing out the heterogeneity of the National Legionary State’s politics of womanhood.