Laura Mentasti

In the essay, the value of the practices of intercultural mediation that women put into effect is analyzed. Gender belonging proves to be an important resource for the dialog among cultures. It is also able to overcome the obstacles that come from a concept where the cultural belongings and the identities are seen as strict and unchangeable. First of all, the experiences of the international meetings of female groups and associations are examined. These experiences have allowed the identification, beside the differences, also of the common elements that characterize the female condition in each part of the world. Also analyzed is the role of ‘bridge’ among cultures that the women immigrants play, when they try to find elements of connection and of possible living together among the host world and the world of origin. Finally, the results of a research realized among women immigrants and native-born, who are occupied with intercultural matters, are briefly presented.