Press release
28/05/2026
“Now can we stop talking about my body?” With these words, one of the most famous and influential female figures in the world presented her politically correct curvy physique on the cover of 'Time' in 2016. She was Miss Barbara Millicent Roberts, better known as Barbie. The stars and stripes doll from Mattel turned 67 on March 9th and is shining again in all its splendour at the vintage toy exhibition entitled 'We're all in this together'. May 29 in the presence of the testimonial, the writer Maurizio De Giovanni, the temporary exhibition will be inaugurated in the spaces of the Corradino complex of the’Moricino-Borsellino Institute in Piazza Sant'Eligio, and can be visited during school hours until June 12th. The exhibition represents the final stage of the project '‘Toy, what a genre!’' and it was organized by Antinoo Arcigay In collaboration with the Naples Toy Museum, the Tin Drum, and the Scuola Progetto Futuro e Volontariato association. The open-door debate, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 29th, will feature Giuliana Zoppoli, director of the Moricino-Borsellino High School, Mariavalentina Esposito, teacher at the Moricino-Borsellino High School, Antonello Sannino, president of Antinoo Arcigay Naples, Paolo Russo of the Scuola Progetto Futuro e Volontariato association, Vincenzo Capuano of the Tin Drum, and Maurizio De Giovanni.
The project
The "Toy, What a Genre!" project, based on the public notice "Culture, what a class!" from the City of Naples, featured seminars and theoretical and practical workshops at the G. Rossini Professional Institute, the Giordano Striano Technical and Technological Institute, and the Moricino-Borsellino State Comprehensive Institute. The exhibition "We're all in the same boat," conceived and developed by the students, was curated by the university professor Vincenzo Capuano, and is aimed at young people, adults, and educators, without the pretense of imposing an idea but rather suggesting food for thought. The exhibition features evocative vintage toys, aesthetically beautiful, and sophisticated in their construction. The message is that play should be seen as an act of freedom, knowledge, and skill—an attempt to understand the present in order to break down gender stereotypes. Among the themes discussed during the project is the history of the doll: recounting it metaphorically addresses the history of women and men, to discover how certain models—apparently outdated—still constitute a powerful psychological and cultural legacy and an effective political tool.
The video
During the workshops, the documentary entitled "Giocattolo, che Genre!" was filmed. The short film featured students and teachers from middle schools and vocational schools, and features interviews conducted by journalist and videographer Francesca Saccenti. In answering questions, the students focused on how the role of parents significantly influences, and sometimes discriminates against, childhood play. Fear of prejudice often stems from the family, not the external context.
The testimonial
Born in 1958, Maurizio De Giovanni is one of Italy's most important writers, renowned for his crime novels set in his hometown, including the series "Inspector Ricciardi," "Bastards of Pizzofalcone," and "Sara." His works are appreciated for their psychological depth, evocative Neapolitan atmosphere, and skill in weaving compelling plots. Maurizio De Giovanni's commitment to civil rights manifests itself subtly yet forcefully in his fiction. Through the creation of marginalized characters, victims of prejudice, or representatives of diversity, the writer offers a critical perspective on power dynamics and social inequalities.
