Modern Mafia women are a far cry from the women of only one generation ago, having utilized every tool within their possession to gain powerful positions within the Mafia. These positions were not handed to them or made easier for them to obtain, “opportunities don’t just happen; you have to rip them out with your teeth, buy them, or dig for them. Nothing is left to chance” (Saviano & Jewiss 137). These women fought for these positions, for the respect of the Mafia; it didn’t just fall into their hands, they took them. Anna Mazza is one of these women, regarded by many as a pioneer for modern Mafia women; she was as cutthroat and authoritative as any male Mafia leader. Initially relegated to the traditional role of Mafia women, her rise within …show more content…
A backwardness that made her immune to ambushes, envies, and conflicts. Her determination made the Moccia family one of the most important clans” within the Italian Mafia (Saviano & Jewiss 142). She ruled her clan with an iron fist, overseeing all of their activities with a dedication not seen in other clans, leading to her acquisition of the nickname “black widow of the Camorra.” Her undeniable involvement with Mafia activities eventually led to her arrest, and later conviction; she was the first Italian woman to be found guilty of Mafia related crimes. Despite her imprisonment, Mazza paved the way for women within the Mafia, creating an atmosphere of equality that has led to the rise of modern Mafia …show more content…
Women occupy a key role in bearing witness to a phenomenon which flourishes on its very lack of visibility, where the witness does not dare” (Siebert 14). The struggle against the Mafia has intensified in recent years, with women at the forefront, and unusually, the women are usually former Mafia members. These women who have chosen to defect do so for a variety of reasons, including the loss in belief in the Mafia’s ‘cause’ and ideals as well as the loss of those close to them as a result of Mafia activities. These women’s decision to turn their backs on the Mafia is a significant blow to the Mafia itself, as it represents the degradation of its control over its members, particularly the women; this growing trend shows others that there is hope for even the most devoted to turn against their cause, ideally inspiring average citizens to join the fight, as defectors are risking far more and are still willing to defect. These women often struggle in their decision to defect, for the Mafia, as an institution, is a “closed structure. This closed network precludes the organization of a movement among rebels or women who are against the authority of the Mafia. This social structure renders the resistance against the Mafia at a personal level among women rather than a communal level” (Cayli 7). Despite the