Please read the attachment carefully !

Italian American are they different from Italians in Italy? Yes – Most Italian American left Italy many years before 1955 and many of them did not have enough means to go back and forth or to keep in contact – Internet was not available and even the telephone was used scarcely years ago. …. Just think of an American living the US for a new country just when this magazine was printed ( in 1955 ) and compare him to a 2007 US citizen. Most Italian American – like Greek American for that matter are more conservative than Italian in Italy / Greek in Greece and this just because they left their country at a quite different time.

Paolo

Paolo,

I love this guide on how to be the perfect wife. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be a woman back then... and to move to another country. I would imagine that the women in Italy were dealing with the same issues at that time as American women, and moving here must have been very hard.

Okay, now I'm going to read the rules again so I can make sure I'm doing it all right.....

Teresa

So does this article refer to American Italian wives? Or only American wives in general?

These wives certainly sound like the wives in the 1975 horror film, The Stepford Wives, which was remade with Nicole Kidman not long ago. In the original movie Joanna, a recently married woman, goes to live in a small town where she meets a lot of obedient, simpering women. They even call their husbands 'Master!' Joanna is well-educated and fails to understand why these women want to discuss insecticides and cleaners, and why they're so anxious to please their husbands. She eventually finds out the truth, which is quite terrifying. (I don't like to spoil the end for those who haven't seen it!)

I haven't seen the remake which didn't get good reviews. I'm no good at seeing horror movies and the original has stayed in my mind!

Women do have equal rights in most ways now, but has everything really changed for the better? The battle of the sexes will never end, I think. I once wrote an article comparing Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice with Bridget in Bridget Jones. Elizabeth had much more self-esteem and was much more independent than Bridget, a modern woman! Elizabeth wasn't obsessed with finding a husband or her looks like Bridget. Society's attitude to single women is still quite tough, I think, so I could understand Bridget's feelings.

Men, arguably, have greater opportunities to treat women badly these days. I've heard of some men living with models for a year or two and then replacing them with new ones when they get 'too old'! Also men often leave their wives for younger women.

What do others think?

Yes I confess it. I live with hot models and I replace them every couple of years. Good bye Heidi Klum, leave me alone :-)