Hundreds of thousands of Italian women have taken to the streets, calling for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation and expressing outrage at an atmosphere of sexism and inequality that they feel he has helped create ... through his personal actions in office and the media empire he controls. We take stock of Silvio Berlusconi's affect on women's rights in Italy.

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Today's guest host was Piya Chattopadhyay.

PART ONE

It's Friday, February 18th.

Computer giant Apple says it uncovered labour and safety abuses by some of its Chinese suppliers.

Of special concern was the indiscriminate use of iProds on workers.

This is the Current.

Women's Rights in Italy - Rachel Donadio

We started this segment with a clip with some Italian women airing their thoughts today about their Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Well, Berlusconi says he has always tried to make women feel "special." But clearly, they feel outrage instead. From his penchant for appointing showgirls to political office to his alleged fondness for "bunga bunga" parties involving young women.

And now ... Ruby-gate. Prime Minister Berlusconi is set to stand trial in April on charges that he paid for sex with a minor ... an under-aged dancer who went by the name "Ruby the Heart-Stealer." Berlusconi will be tried by a panel of three judges, all of them women. Rachel Donadio has been covering the whole, sordid sex scandal. She's The New York Times' Bureau Chief in Rome.

Women's Rights in Italy - Lorella Zanardo

For some Italian women, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal signals a tipping point. Time for women to rise up against a long standing culture of sexism... something that has been perpetuated by years of hyper-sexualized images on Italian television. And since Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi owns three national television stations... some lay much of the blame on him.

Lorella Zanardo is a film-maker. Her documentary, Il Corpo delle Donne or Women's Bodies looks at the Italian media's portrayal of women. She was in Rome.

Related Links:

• Trial Is Set for Berlusconi in Prostitution Case by Rachel Donadio - New York Times
• Italians Protest Over Berlusconi Scandals by Rachel Donadio and Elisabetta Povoledo - New York Times
• Berlusconi Faces Trial and the Wrath of Italy's Women by Stephan Faris - Time Magazine
  
  

Other segments from today's show:

• Car Insurance & Diminished Value
• Genomics: Tim Caulfield