Meeting Italian men in Rome!

When I talk to female expats, the question I am asked the most is how they should deal with Italian men.

First and foremost a comment on "cultural" posts:  I am aware that I may be generalizing but what I’d like to do is identify behavioral trends. By no means do I mean to speak of "everyone".

Quick facts:


- When it comes to dating non-Italian women (particularly Americans), Italian men often think that they are expected to behave like a macho don Giovanni (whether or not they are) and will exaggerate behavior.

·     - Foreigners do not form part of the Italian social fabric and are therefore unfamiliar with social subtleties and restrictions.

·     - Italians usually meet through mutual friends; they do not engage in random conversations and don’t exchange phone numbers with strangers!  A foreign woman is regarded as "easy" when she gives out her telephone number.

·    - Compared to other countries, Italians do not drink much; most importantly being drunk is considered vulgar.... especially intoxicated women....

·     - Stereotypes don’t die easily, i.e. non-Italian women, especially from Northern Europe or the United States, are considered - and treated as - "easy" by many men.

·     - Italians seem to judge by the cover! If you are wearing what may be considered inappropriate clothing, then you may also be judged the same way! Get inspired by what Italians wear before you choose your attire.

·     - If you are just visiting or haven't been in Italy for a very long time, keep in mind that you are NOT in the position to smell out trouble. Dealing with Italian men can be a real challenge since you may not speak the language proficiently enough or at all, you don't yet know your way around, and you still can’t read between the lines of people's behavior.

Do I mean to say that you shouldn't have fun while in Rome? Of course not, but you need to be aware of cultural nuances and safety issues so that you can spare yourself of painful experience!