Downsizing Casanova--Italy's Casanovas hit where it hurts...

[Surya Gayatri]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24065878


One consequence of the economic downturn that has gone largely unreported is the struggle Italian men now face to woo women with the care and attention - and the financial outlay - they were once renowned for.

In the queue at the ice cream parlour the two businessmen jiggled anxiously and salivated like school boys as they stared at the myriad flavours of coloured gelato.

.../...

"No money for anything now - not even for women," he added as he licked his spoon thoughtfully. "The day of Casanova is over. One woman only - and that's already too expensive."

.../...

The economic crisis has hit Italian men where it hurts most.

With their country still in recession, with unemployment climbing above 12% and with the cost of living soaring, the Latin lover has had to rein in his appetite.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24065878

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Really - the economy?

Or how about the fact that at least the Italian women I'm related to will boot a boot in their husband's asses if they two time on them.

The 'lotharios' interviewed for this . . . If you are hanging in a gelato shop at that time of day - you don't have a girlfriend/wife OR a mistress - and you are probably a mammoni at home with your mama. And they are just swinging their balls to look good in front of other peopple.

What's the next article from BBC? All Italian men beat their wives? Are in the mafia? Are illiterate? Don't bathe? Smell like garlic?

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Well, it does make for interesting speculation. For sure, many

Italian men do tend to live at home well into their 20s or 30s.

La Mama's cooking and laundry services can't be beat, and she spoils you rotten.

I have a male Sardinian friend who's well into his 50s and still lives at home. In season, he's a life guard and swimming instructor for Club Med Sardinia, but goes home to Mama when the season's over.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Many Italian men

Including my husband . . . are smart and wait until they can afford to get married - before they get married. Hence the living at home - as do many Italian women (both of my sister in laws did). Must be a regional thing - no self respecting Calabrese man would be caught dead living off of a woman. It's just not in them. To include their mother. And not having financial stress (major cause of divorce) is a good thing.

My mother in law taught her sons to cook, clean, sew (she was a seamstress), and keep house - better to be able to take care of yourself than to HAVE to get married. My husband would tell you: That's weak if you can't make sauce.

And my sisters in law can change the oil, turn a wrench, etc. etc.

I think it's funny a British publication put this story out . . .

My personal first hand experience - they are stand up straight men who fly right, do the right thing, are extremely respectful of women, like women (contrast to the many women hating men I encountered as a single woman), aren't lazy, etc. etc.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. The Italian men I've known have been a mixed bag--

the Sardinian is very respectful of women, but very attached to his family like so many Italians. He lives with his mother because his father's dead and he just hasn't met "La Donna". His brother and sister-in-law live just near-by.

On the other hand, I knew 3 brothers whose mother was a Triestianna (from Trieste) and whose father was a true Sicilien. That mix made for some really strange family dynamics.

On the whole, I agree about Italian men. Hard working, clever, honest and they do adore good food!