Borders. Others. Outsiders. Insiders. Contradictions. Divisions. Ambiguity. Fluidity. These words have become the buzzwords of the trip, the clichés that are said over and over as we discuss Italian identity. I can’t help but smirk when somebody uses one of these words. But in reality, there is no other way to describe many of the aspects of the life and identity of a true Roman without resorting to the use of these words. In a country so dependent on foreigners to support their economy and health care system, why is there such widespread resentment against those who are not originally from Italy? How probable is it that the Italians will begin progress towards an attitude of acceptance in the near future?
In a sense we are all outsiders of some sort. There is no human that exists that fits the mold of an insider in all respects. We all have our flaws, our rough edges, but that is what makes us unique. Many, including Romans and myself, forget to realize the necessity and appreciate the variety provided by diversity. Before coming to Rome, I had an image in my head of how to easily identify a Roman; the Italian Stallion, a tall, dark, and handsome sweet talker. “You better not come home with a boyfriend,” warned my father. As I scrambled around the airport gathering my bags after I had landed, I observed the people but I did not see any men that I found particularly attractive. Instead, the airport was filled with tourists, families speaking a variety of languages, and older couples. During the first week of the program, I kept my eyes peeled for attractive me, people had made it sound like Italy was just teeming with eligible bachelors. Somewhat disappointed, I realized that, in general, Rome is like many other places, every person does not fit the mold of the Italian Stallion.
This leads to the question that we began debating at the beginning of the course: what defines a person as “Italian”? Is it their birthplace? Skin color and physical appearance? Location of residence? Language? I wish I had come to a concrete conclusion, but I have not. After doing my independent research on immigrant women, I am still awestruck and confounded by this deep question, and not only as it applies in Italy. It all ties into the overarching theme of insiders and outsiders. I have observed this same phenomenon at home, but I was not expecting to see it here in Italy. I was oblivious to the issues regarding racism and immigration before I came, and I was under the impression that there was a set Italian identity. But obviously this is not the case.
Depending how one defines the term “Italian”, I could possibly be considered Italian. I have lived here the past three months and have a very limited proficiency in the language, enough to get me by. The Bangledeshi immigrant selling arm fulls of umbrellas could be considered Italian. The Nigerian woman who has lived in Italy for 30 years and works in the embassy could be considered Italian. The University of Roma student who can trace his full-blooded Italian heritage back 10 generations could be considered Italian. The American student who has never been to Italy but is 1/16th Italian could also be considered Italian. It all depends on perception and individual opinion. Different people perceive and define things in different ways, and this causes problems when people are unable to accept and respect the views of others.
Visiting Rome as an outsider (I know, cliché, but I couldn’t think of a better word), I noticed the blatant racism of many natives towards immigrants. The government is set up in a way that does not encourage foreign workers to thrive, regardless of the immense contribution that they make to Italian society. Foreign caregivers save the Italian economy over 1 billion euros a year that would be spent funding Skilled Nursing Facilities. Immigrants fill the positions that native Italians are unwilling to fill. But, mainly from fear of being overtaken is my guess, Italians treat their immigrant population poorly in general.
Being removed from my comfortable environment in the United States, I realized that I am often guilty of the possessing some of the same ideas that I accuse Italians of having. Coming from a very conservative family, I have grown up adopting many conservative ideals as my own. I never had harsh feelings towards immigrants per se, but I never was able to see the benefits of having a diverse society and appreciating immigrants for the assistance that they provide our economy and society as a whole. After studying the predicaments suffered by immigrants in Italy and learning about all that they provide to the Italian economy, I gained a new appreciation for the assistance that immigrants provide my community back at home. After experiencing the challenges of being an outsider in a foreign country (as a student, not even as an immigrant), I have come away with a renewed compassion and welcoming spirit for foreigners who come to my home, whether it be to work, visit, or study.
Well, I'm glad you didn't come home with one of those Italian boyfriends... :-)
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