“You Have to Wear It” – The Neglected Gender Dimension of a Nationalist Debate

In South Tyrol, the newly elected mayor of Meran/Merano, Katharina Zeller, caused a national uproar when she removed the Italian *tricolore* sash during her inauguration. The incident was viewed as an ethnic provocation, while its gender-related aspect was largely disregarded: footage shows her male predecessor insisting that she wear the sash, despite her visible discomfort. This case highlights the complex and often overlooked ways in which power, identity and gender intersect.