Cultural Universals
For more information on Italy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Italy
Gives detailed examples of important cultural aspects of italy such as architecture, fashion, etc.
http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html
Not only does this site describe italian history and everything there is to know about the country, but it discusses the whole context of culture in italy and its importance.
Gives detailed examples of important cultural aspects of italy such as architecture, fashion, etc.
http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Italy.html
Not only does this site describe italian history and everything there is to know about the country, but it discusses the whole context of culture in italy and its importance.
Status of Women
Women in Italy are considered to be the most liberated women in Europe. They participate in every social, political, and economical aspect there is. (SALAMONE , n.d.)
“Of the world’s nearly one billion illiterate adults, two-thirds are women.” (ECOSOC, 1997) This however is not true in italy, since 98 percent are literate. ("Women in italy," 2011) Women in Italy are found to be very educated. Since the post-roman period, it is not as surprising now to see women attending universities.Of college graduates, 60 percent are women. ("Women in italy," 2011)
Italy is well known for its family life. A women’s independence plays a negative role in this view, as its population growth decreases and women tend to strive more towards an education and career. There still exists a preference for a son when it comes to the sex of a child at birth however. As seen in the map below from womenstats.org, Italy falls into the category of “Somewhat abnormal childhood sex ratios favoring males.” If women truly have become independent and thought to be viewed as equal to men, then the question of why this preference is still existent arises.
Women however may not feel that confidence of equality. Although women may be considered the most liberal, they are also the country with the lowest employment percentage for women in the European Union. With 12 percent lower employment than most other countries, there 6 million women out of work in Italy. Jobs are existent and plentiful, but there is a strong divide in the women that are out there having jobs and attending university versus the women that stay at home to take care of the household. The reason why these women are out of work is just that, the responsibilities at home and having children seem more important than looking for a job. “Except for those who enter the clergy, almost all Italians marry.” (SALAMONE , n.d.) That being the case, the birth rate in Italy should be abundant… yet it is not.
The domestic responsibilities tend to be left to women. “Surveys show that a typical Italian woman dedicates five hours a day to the house, while men just one.” (Wallis, 2008) Some people think these expectations may be resultant of the media’s portrayal of women. “Scantily clad women and dancing girls” dominate the media, instead of powerful independent women. (Wallis, 2008)
If stereotypes continue to exist, women may tend to stay on the same track.
“Of the world’s nearly one billion illiterate adults, two-thirds are women.” (ECOSOC, 1997) This however is not true in italy, since 98 percent are literate. ("Women in italy," 2011) Women in Italy are found to be very educated. Since the post-roman period, it is not as surprising now to see women attending universities.Of college graduates, 60 percent are women. ("Women in italy," 2011)
Italy is well known for its family life. A women’s independence plays a negative role in this view, as its population growth decreases and women tend to strive more towards an education and career. There still exists a preference for a son when it comes to the sex of a child at birth however. As seen in the map below from womenstats.org, Italy falls into the category of “Somewhat abnormal childhood sex ratios favoring males.” If women truly have become independent and thought to be viewed as equal to men, then the question of why this preference is still existent arises.
Women however may not feel that confidence of equality. Although women may be considered the most liberal, they are also the country with the lowest employment percentage for women in the European Union. With 12 percent lower employment than most other countries, there 6 million women out of work in Italy. Jobs are existent and plentiful, but there is a strong divide in the women that are out there having jobs and attending university versus the women that stay at home to take care of the household. The reason why these women are out of work is just that, the responsibilities at home and having children seem more important than looking for a job. “Except for those who enter the clergy, almost all Italians marry.” (SALAMONE , n.d.) That being the case, the birth rate in Italy should be abundant… yet it is not.
The domestic responsibilities tend to be left to women. “Surveys show that a typical Italian woman dedicates five hours a day to the house, while men just one.” (Wallis, 2008) Some people think these expectations may be resultant of the media’s portrayal of women. “Scantily clad women and dancing girls” dominate the media, instead of powerful independent women. (Wallis, 2008)
If stereotypes continue to exist, women may tend to stay on the same track.
Religion in Italy.
Catholicism is by far the biggest religion in Italy; its spread having a major effect on the development of Italy and its people. It began in Rome but spread through the rest of Europe through missionaries. Catholics make up 87.8% of the population, it’s majority quite clear. ("Religion in italy," 2012)
Faith and Religion clearly play a vital role in the development of Italy. It was where Catholicism spread and where the Crusades took place. Not only did Italy’s capital of Rome develop with the spread of Catholicism, but Catholicism in a way spread too because of Rome.
Most of the sacred places in Italy are located in Rome. A tourist traveling to Italy is almost surely visiting the churches, as they are not seen as a type of museum but an active congregation. (Demetri, n.d.) There are countless churches that have been built from ancient Roman temples, dating back to pagan times.
The pope is not only the head of the Catholic Church but he is also the Bishop of Rome. (Demetri, n.d.) His role is vital to the church, the origin of the role dating back to the founding of Rome itself. The pope is not as influential to the government of Italy, but he is as prominent, if not more. His significance stands for a much bigger audience than just the people of Italy, but to Catholics everywhere.
Demetri, J. (n.d.). Life in italy. Retrieved from http://www.lifeinitaly.com/religion/default.asp
image retrieved from this website as well.
Religion in italy. (2012, may 8). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Italy
Faith and Religion clearly play a vital role in the development of Italy. It was where Catholicism spread and where the Crusades took place. Not only did Italy’s capital of Rome develop with the spread of Catholicism, but Catholicism in a way spread too because of Rome.
Most of the sacred places in Italy are located in Rome. A tourist traveling to Italy is almost surely visiting the churches, as they are not seen as a type of museum but an active congregation. (Demetri, n.d.) There are countless churches that have been built from ancient Roman temples, dating back to pagan times.
The pope is not only the head of the Catholic Church but he is also the Bishop of Rome. (Demetri, n.d.) His role is vital to the church, the origin of the role dating back to the founding of Rome itself. The pope is not as influential to the government of Italy, but he is as prominent, if not more. His significance stands for a much bigger audience than just the people of Italy, but to Catholics everywhere.
Demetri, J. (n.d.). Life in italy. Retrieved from http://www.lifeinitaly.com/religion/default.asp
image retrieved from this website as well.
Religion in italy. (2012, may 8). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Italy
Loss of Cultural Diversity
The loss of culture in Italy is not necessarily considered a loss, yet more of a modernization. The major differences are in the role of men and women as well as traditional customs. Before, women were expected to be stay at home and take care of the household, something also commonly seen in American households. Most households were patriarchal, “traditionally the husband was the ruler of the family, in theory, while the wife took care of the day–to–day operations.” (Salamon)
As time went by, women rose to independence. “After World War II, that arrangement changed rapidly…. Currently, women participate in every aspect of political, economic, and social life. Women are equal under the law and attend universities and work in the labor force in numbers commensurate with their share of the population.” (Salamon) Women’s independence however has caused a negative population growth for Italy. This was something that would not have happened in earlier times as family was the very first utmost priority for women. Women, today, still take care of their “expected” domestic responsibilities, but also maintain jobs. This does not impact Italy’s culture in a negative light as, apart from the population decrease, it increases Italy’s economy.
One thing that still has not changed much today is Italians being known for their traditional Italian family dinners. These dinners are seen as a way to connect the family, a cherished value for Italian culture. Dinners were typically long and loud, “food is a means for establishing and maintaining ties among family and friends. No one who enters an Italian home should fail to receive an offering of food and drink.” (Salamon) Dinners were large as it was often seen that more than one family lived in the same household. It was also normal for a recently married family to live with the bride’s parents for some time. (Salamon)
On the topic of marriage, in the past, they were commonly arranged as a woman brought a dowry to the marriage. Almost every Italian married and until May 12, 1974, divorce had been forbidden. The Christian Democrats and the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement campaigned for divorce to be illegal again after the vote, using the arguments of “think about the children” and attempting to uphold the traditional family structure. (Italian Divorce Referendum, 2013)
Now, everyone is free to decide who they choose to marry. Although the module has changed from earlier times, family and dinners are still valuable aspects of Italian culture. Italy has not lost its culture, merely enhanced it.
Sources
Salamon, F. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com
Italian Divorce Referendum. (15 March, 2013). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
As time went by, women rose to independence. “After World War II, that arrangement changed rapidly…. Currently, women participate in every aspect of political, economic, and social life. Women are equal under the law and attend universities and work in the labor force in numbers commensurate with their share of the population.” (Salamon) Women’s independence however has caused a negative population growth for Italy. This was something that would not have happened in earlier times as family was the very first utmost priority for women. Women, today, still take care of their “expected” domestic responsibilities, but also maintain jobs. This does not impact Italy’s culture in a negative light as, apart from the population decrease, it increases Italy’s economy.
One thing that still has not changed much today is Italians being known for their traditional Italian family dinners. These dinners are seen as a way to connect the family, a cherished value for Italian culture. Dinners were typically long and loud, “food is a means for establishing and maintaining ties among family and friends. No one who enters an Italian home should fail to receive an offering of food and drink.” (Salamon) Dinners were large as it was often seen that more than one family lived in the same household. It was also normal for a recently married family to live with the bride’s parents for some time. (Salamon)
On the topic of marriage, in the past, they were commonly arranged as a woman brought a dowry to the marriage. Almost every Italian married and until May 12, 1974, divorce had been forbidden. The Christian Democrats and the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement campaigned for divorce to be illegal again after the vote, using the arguments of “think about the children” and attempting to uphold the traditional family structure. (Italian Divorce Referendum, 2013)
Now, everyone is free to decide who they choose to marry. Although the module has changed from earlier times, family and dinners are still valuable aspects of Italian culture. Italy has not lost its culture, merely enhanced it.
Sources
Salamon, F. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com
Italian Divorce Referendum. (15 March, 2013). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Italians love food!
Spaghetti alla puttanesca, italian traditional recipe.
|
Italians are known for their love of food. Look at movies, shows, books, and their portrayal of the traditional Italian dinner. Much of the Italian life revolves around a dinner table. Italians are usually stereotyped for having long dinners, yet as Italy has become more modernized, this is no longer the case.
Biscotti RecipeThese twice-baked (biscottare means to bake twice) biscuits are terrific dunked in Vin Santo, Tuscany's traditional sweet wine. 3 eggs 1 cup sugar ¾ cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons anise seed 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped almonds or walnuts Beat eggs until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually add sugar and beat. Add vegetable oil. Lightly crush anise seed with mortar and pestle. Add to egg mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to egg mixture. Beat until smooth. Add almonds or walnuts. Turn out onto lightly floured board and shape into flat loaves about ¼-inch thick and 2½ inches wide, the length of the baking sheet. Place on greased baking sheets, bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 2 minutes and slice into ¾-inch pieces. Lay pieces cut sides down on baking sheets. Bake again at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or just until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. MAKES 4 DOZEN Retrieved from: http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa120600d.htm |