L'implicature delle mascolinità

Speranza

Sexual attitudes in Italy place great emphasis on an individual's taking the 'active' sexual role in intercourse -- that is, penetrating his partner, whether male or female, rather than being penetrated.

In Italy, traditional language -- before the invention of the word 'omosessuale', and the colloquial 'frocio' -- contained specific words ONLY for the 'passive' partner in anal intercourse: 'arruso' or 'ricchione', and for a transvestite, 'femmenella', whereas no special term (or the concept underlying it) existed for the 'active' partner.

The two groups, active and passive, are quite separate and individuals do not have with others from the same group.

Only the 'ricchioni' develop a 'homosexual' subculture, while 'active' partners particpate in general heterosexual cultural life.

They, in fact, may well regard the 'ricchioni', thought not themselves, as deviant.

-------

Some sociological studies suggest that this dichotomy between 'active' and 'passive', common in classical Greece and Rome, lingered on, even for many centuries, in Italy.

A male proves his virility and retains his social status if he only plays the 'active' role -- or publicly claims to do so -- in intercourse.

Marriage and the fathering of child, either in the same period or later in life, proves his 'manliness'.

-----

-----