IAP 69: "Italian American Women intrinsically feel a sense of their own power" – Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey on the origins of the National Organization of Italian American Women

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey, one of the founders and the first president of the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW). She discusses the role of Italian American women before, during, and after the feminist movement, as well as her own journey straying from then returning to embracing her heritage. In the story segment, Dolores reads a segment from Dr. Sirey's incredible research booklet, "Ethnotherapy: An exploration of Italian-American identity" About our Guest Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey, Ph.D Dr. Aileen Riotto Sirey was elected the first President of NOIAW in 1980, when the organization began with a small group of women including Geraldine Ferraro, Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Roseanne Colletti. Sirey maintained her position as President for 7 years. For the following 25 years she served as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the organization, which in that time span has grown into an international network with more than 1,000 members and affiliates in Australia, Argentina and Italy.