[G. Chan]

From my observations, it seems that many Italian youth who would be steroetypically classified as being “ginos” or “ginas” put a tremendous importance on surface appearance and material values, almost to the point of looking “plastic” in those efforts to appear attractive. Not only that, but when this degree of observed “plasticity” appears high, there also seems to be a corresponding lack of depth, complexity and intellectual substance in the person displaying these traits. Where can this possibly originate from, when considering the fact that Italy has such a cultivated artistic and intellectual history?

User Detail :  

Name : G. Chan, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Humanist, Age : 16, City : Toronto, State : NA, Country : Canada, Occupation : Cultural Change Agent, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[BB23286]

I find the same to be true of most people who are too concerned with their appearance. I don’t think it is just Italian youths who are like this. I think those types of people exist in every walk of life. Perhaps it is just more noticable to you when Italian youths are dressed up. I’m sure there are many non-Italian youths you know who spend hours in front of mirrors preening themselves, and you just don’t realize it.

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Name : BB23286, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 24, City : Edinburgh, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : PhD. student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Geno21638]

This is not just a youth thing within the Italian American community, and certainly not something unique to Italians. Italians are an outward-looking culture, very demonstrative, expressive. Some people believe Italians live life as if it were an opera – dramatic, colorful, vibrant, loud. Thus, Italian Americans first learn to live life on the outside. It also makes strong pressures to have material gain so that one can show his or her joy for life and presence in the world.

I think it does make us look more superficial, but I think that characteristic is more Western than anything else. We learn later in life about having a rich, reflective life. There is also a historical trend that more Italians came to American during periods of extreme poverty, thus there is even greater presure to “show” that one has overcome these factors and to rationalize the sadness of leaving loved families and small villages in Italy.

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Name : Geno21638, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, 

[Mya20216]

What people often do not know and most deny is that not only Italians would classify themselves as ‘ginos’ or ‘ginas’. It is mostly the Italians, yes, but there is a lot of that all over Europe. Ginos and Ginas are just people who have a specific style. (ex: listen to certain type of music, wear certain types of clothes,etc..)

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Name : Mya20216, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : European, Religion : Catholic, Age : 25, City : Mississauga, State : NY, Country : Canada, Social class : Lower middle class, 

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