Statue gets a bum wrap

ROME: A statue of a woman honouring the heroes of Italy’s struggle for unification is at the centre of a sexism row because of her revealing dress.

Unveiled in southern Italy, the statue is a tribute to a revered 1858 poem about a peasant woman who meets Italian patriots before they die fighting the Kingdom of Naples.

All attention at the unveiling focused on the statue’s curvy behind, clearly outlined under her windblown dress.

Women demanded the statue be taken down, calling it “sexist”. But the sculptor hit back on Facebook: “If it had been up to me, I would have made the figure totally nude.”