Paola Melchiori

Doctor Degree in Philosophy and Anthropology, active in the Feminist movement since the mid-seventies while intensively working as a teacher/professor inside the pilot school for adult grass root movements, the Trade Unions, the University (1972-87). She left the University to found the Free University of Women, in Milan, of which she has been President from 1986 until 1996, when she found the International Branch of the Free University of Women, in Milan, Crinali, a research and training oriented feminist association of women from various intellectual backgrounds, social classes and cultures. From the mid eighties the field of activity and of interest has included theoretical and field work in the North-South Cooperation projects in the contexts of cross-cultural women exchanges. Currently she is President of WWIFUN, (Wise Women International Feminist University Network), which aims at collecting the best of international feminist culture in order to make it transferable to young women. Author of several essays, co-author and author of several books on theoretical gender issues, co-founder of the review Lapis.