What is the name of the prominent female figure in Italian Mafia history?

The prominent female figure in Italian Mafia history is Rosa Russo Iervolino. She is notable for her involvement in organized crime, particularly as she became one of the first female members of the Camorra, a criminal organization in Naples. Iervolino’s influence and activities within the Mafia underline the significant yet often overlooked roles women can play in criminal enterprises, challenging traditional notions of gender roles within organized crime. Her legacy reflects not only the actions of women in these environments but also the complexities and power dynamics of the Mafia that have historically been male-dominated.

In contrast, the other figures listed—Ma Baker, Nannie Doss, and Aileen Wuornos—are associated with different criminal contexts and do not have ties to the Italian Mafia in a historical sense. Ma Baker is often connected to American gangland during the 1930s, while Nannie Doss and Aileen Wuornos are known for serial killings in the United States, further differentiating their criminal narrative from that of Rosa Russo Iervolino.