An FT magazine cover story on the death of feminism in Italy – which highlighted that teenagers are coveting jobs as showgirls, dancers and quiz show hostesses – has sparked an intense debate on the role of women in the Bel Paese.

On one side stand the proud nationalists who believe that the “Brits should mind their own business”; on the other, those – especially young professionals and 1970s feminists – who found the FT analysis “awakening and true”.