Review of: Ilaria Tatulli. Ragazze e donne con disabilità: Percorsi storico-culturali, narrazioni e orientamento formativo [Girls and Women with Disabilities: Historical-Cultural Pathways, Narratives, and Formative Orientation]. Milano: FrancoAngeli, 2023. 179 pp.

Abstract

Ilaria Tatulli’s Ragazze e donne con disabilità [Girls and Women with Disabilities] offers a rich and carefully articulated synthesis of historical, cultural, and pedagogical perspectives on the lives of women and girls with disabilities. Rather than uncovering new archival material, Tatulli’s project reconceptualizes existing sources to construct an interpretive framework that informs both research and educational practice. Comprising eight chapters, the volume transitions from theoretical and historical foundations to the analysis of narrative testimonies and an empirical study on formative orientation. This structure allows readers to follow the gradual movement from conceptual framing to lived experience and applied research. Particularly commendable is Tatulli’s intersectional approach, which foregrounds the interplay of gender, disability, and social context, situating the experiences of disabled women within broader discourses of inclusion and rights. The book’s pedagogical value lies in its potential to serve as both a reflective and practical resource. Tatulli demonstrates how established theoretical traditions can be mobilized to foster critical awareness and create more inclusive educational pathways. However, some limitations deserve attention. The discussion engages only marginally with classical and medieval sources that could have enriched the historical narrative, and the empirical chapter would benefit from greater demographic transparency and methodological detail. Overall, Ragazze e donne con disabilità is a timely and important contribution to the fields of disability studies, feminist pedagogy, and inclusive education. Tatulli’s integrative approach not only bridges disciplinary divides, but also invites readers to rethink the historical and cultural constructions of disability and gender. This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of disability through an intersectional and pedagogically informed lens.