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The packaging for the Mendiconi Stendimeglio Junior drying rack.
The packaging for the Mendiconi Stendimeglio Junior drying rack.

O mammamia: five annoying things about motherhood in Italy

January 23, 2013 by Michelle Tarnopolsky in Feminism, Italy, Parenting

1. That the Madonna/whore complex was, in a manner of speaking, conceived here.

2. That there are no words for "gender neutral" in Italian. Just kidding. But not really.

3. That mothers get very little political, cultural or family support if they're LGBTQ, single, foreign with a foreign co-parent, women of colour and I'm sure a bunch of others that I'm missing, i.e. if they somehow fall outside the traditional Italian family.

4. That many women here are forced to choose between working and having kids.

5. That there is INSANE pressure to be yummy.

I'm not always such a grump about my adopted country. Check out my five favourite things about motherhood in Italy, with commentary, here.

This time I want the commentary to come from you! Especially other mothers living in Italy, whether you're Italian or foreign. Where are you? I want to hear from more of you please! Because I know you're out there. I know there are more than just a handful of you reading me. Show a fellow mamma some love. You know we could all use the support.

January 23, 2013 /Michelle Tarnopolsky
motherhood in Italy
Feminism, Italy, Parenting
14 Comments
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