I think one of Ferrante’s big theses in the Neapolitan Novels is:
1. that feminism and advancing the status of women is not a given under socialism and/or communism, and that it needs to be intentionally and thoughtfully integrated into that sociopolitical & economic philosophy (in practice, into the legal and policy environment). Lila is in a lot of anti-fascism & pro-communism spaces where gender issues are treated as secondary, tertiary, some nth order problem.
2. that class awareness is not a given in feminism and requires similar integration into that philosophy. Elena ends up in a lot of feminist circles that ignore the plight of poor women like Lila. That’s why it gets this reputation of being something not accessible to poor (or otherwise marginalized) women.
3. that without proper & intentional care for both these issues, liberation is completely unattainable.
