The Southern Way of Life - Southern Italy - page 475

Turkish-Italian director Ferzan Özpetek explores the clash of southern tradition and modernity in his film
Mine vaganti (Loose Cannons; 2010), a situation comedy about two gay brothers and their conservative
Pugliese family.
These days, more and more unmarried southern women live with their partners, espe-
cially in the cities. Improvements in educational opportunities and more liberal attitudes
mean that the number of women with successful careers is growing. According to a 2012
report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD), entry rates into higher education for women in Italy were 57% in 2010, com-
pared to 42% for men. Overall, women make up around 59% of all university-level first-
degree graduates in Italy, as well as constituting 52% of advanced research qualifications
(doctorates) awarded in the country - one of the highest percentages among OECD coun-
tries.
THE OLD PROVERBIAL
They might be old clichés, but proverbs can be quite the cultural revelation. Here are six of the south's well-worn
best:
» Cu si marita, sta cuntentu nu jornu, Cu' ammazza nu porcu, sta cuntentu n'annu (Sicilian). Whoever gets mar-
ried remains happy for a day, whoever butchers a pig remains happy for a year.
» Aprili fa li ciuri e li biddizzi, l'onuri l'avi lu misi ri maju (Sicilian). April makes the flowers and the beauty, but
May gets all the credit.
» A chi troppo s'acàla 'o culo se vede (Neapolitan). He who bows too low bares his arse.
» Cu va 'n Palermu e 'un viri Murriali, sinni parti sceccu e tonna armali (Sicilian). Whoever goes to Palermo
and doesn't see Monreale goes there a jackass and returns a fool.
» Quannu la pulice se vitte a la farina, disse ca era capu mulinaru (Pugliese). When the flea found itself in the
flour, it said it was the master miller.
» Lu mericu piatusu fa a chiaja virminusa (Sicilian). A compassionate doctor makes the wound infected.
Despite this, true gender equality remains an unattained goal. The World Economic
Forum's 2012 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Italy 80th worldwide in terms of overall
gender equality, sliding from 74th position in 2011. It ranked 101st in female economic
participation and opportunity, 65th in educational attainment, and 71st in political em-
powerment.