Guido (slang)

Guido (English pronunciation: /ˈɡwiːdoʊ/) is a slang term for a lower-class or working-class urban Italian-New Yorker. The guido stereotype is multi-faceted. Originally, it was used as a demeaning term for Italian-New Yorkers or Italian-New Jerseyian in general. More recently, it has come to refer to Italians who conduct themselves as thugs with an overtly macho attitude.[1] The time period in which it obtained the latter meaning is not clear, but some sources date it to the 1970s or 1980s.[2][3][4]

Contents

Etymology

The word "guido" is derived from either the Italian proper name "Guido" or the Italian verb "guidare" (to drive). Fishermen of Italian descent were once often called "Guidos" during the medieval time period. [5] At least one researcher has theorized that it may have developed as an insult among Italian-Americans applied to new immigrants.

Modern usage and the Italo-New Yorker reaction

The term is used in metropolitan areas associated with large Italian-American populations, usually in New England, such as New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey, especially New Jersey.[6] In other areas, terms such as "Mario" (Chicago) and "Gino" (East Haven, Connecticut, Toronto, Montreal) have a meaning similar to guido.[4] Although some Italians self-identify as "guidos", the term is often considered derogatory or an ethnic slur.[4][7]

The term caused controversy in 2009 when MTV used the term in promotions for the reality television show Jersey Shore.[4] This spurred objections from Italian-American organizations such as Unico National, NIAF, the Order Sons of Italy in America,[8][9] and the internet watchdog organization ItalianAware.[10][11] Although MTV removed the term from some promotions, it remains closely associated with the show, and some of the cast members use it regularly to describe themselves while the females sometimes refer to themselves as a "guidette."[4]

Style

Clothing associated with the stereotype includes gold chains[1] (often herringbones chains, Figaro chains, cornicellos, or saint medallions), pinky rings, working class clothing such as plain T-shirts, muscle shirts[12] or "guinea Ts" (derived from the term "guinea", an ethnic slur for Italians), leather jackets, sweat or tracksuits, scally caps, unbuttoned dress shirts, and often typical Italian "truzzo" club dress. Slicked-back hair and pompadours,[3] blowouts, tapers, poofs, fades and heavily pomaded or gelled hair[2] are also common stereotypes.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Edward Guthmann (July 18, 1997). "'Guido' Light On Swagger". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/07/18/DD32539.DTL. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
  2. ^ a b Libby Copeland (July 6, 2003). "Strutting Season". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13708-2003Jul5.html. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
  3. ^ a b Maria Miro Johnson (August 28, 1988). "High school: Where the wrong sneakers can turn a Skate Rat into an outcast". Providence Journal-Bulletin. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/projo/access/599725821.html?dids=599725821:599725821&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+28%2C+1988&author=MARIA+MIRO+JOHNSON+Journal-Bulletin+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Providence+Journal&desc=High+school%3A+Where+the+wrong+sneakers+can+turn+a+Skate+Rat+into+an+outcast&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Caryn Brooks (December 12, 2009). "Italian Americans and the G Word: Embrace or Reject?". Time. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1947338,00.html?xid=rss-topstories. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
  5. ^ Bondanella, Peter E. Hollywood Italians: Dagos, Palookas, Romeos, Wise Guys, and Sopranos(2005) (ISBN 978-0826417572)
  6. ^ Tricario, Donald (Spring 1991). "Guido: Fashioning An Italian-American Youth Style". Journal of Ethnic Studies (19, no.1): 44–66. http://www9.qcc.cuny.edu/SocialSciences/dtricarico/ss320/guido.pdf. 
  7. ^ Wayne Parry (July 19, 2008). "NJ beach town mayor sez 'Fuhgeddaboudit!' to blog". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-07-19-2039145015_x.htm. Retrieved December 17, 2009. ("he referred to as 'guidos', employing a term widely considered an ethnic slur...")
  8. ^ https://www.niaf.org/public_policy/images/NIAF_Letter_Viacom-JerseyShore11-09.pdf
  9. ^ "Italian-American Groups Ask MTV to Cancel 'Jersey Shore'". Fox News. November 25, 2009. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/11/25/italian-american-group-asks-mtv-cancel-jersey-shore/?utm_source=feedburner. 
  10. ^ "osiarelease". Italianaware.com. http://www.italianaware.com/osiarelease.html. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
  11. ^ "Italian groups target MTV". pressofAtlanticCity.com. 2009-12-04. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/article_08fbfbbc-e122-11de-8a9f-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 2010-09-02. 
  12. ^ Betsy Israel (May 9, 1993). "Rave at Close of Day? You Betcha". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/09/style/rave-at-close-of-day-you-betcha.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 
Cast
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