[1][2] The daughter of Giustina Poli, a teacher, and Fruttuoso Merlin, secretary for the municipality, she was born in Pozzonovo, and grew up in Chioggia.

In March 1926, because she refused to take an oath of loyalty to Italy's Fascist government, she was removed from her teaching position.

Merlin contributed to the socialist weekly Eco dei lavoratori, and the periodical La Difesa delle lavoratrici.

She participated in the founding of the Gruppi di difesa della donna [it], women's defence groups.

75/1958) was introduced in 1948, and, after a long and difficult process, was finally passed in early 1958 and came into effect in September of that year.