Some reflections on the relevance of <em>mammismo</em> in the Italian diaspora in Wellington

Adalgisa Giorgio

OAI: oai:purehost.bath.ac.uk:publications/077e4ecf-2cd2-4fa4-8ebe-8979d70bdcee

Using 50 interviews collected in 2013, the article contends that, contrary to the homeland, mammismo is not a phenomenon to be found among the Italian community of Island Bay in Wellington, New Zealand. Although the Italian family structure still informs the values and practices of this Italian community, mother-son relationships do not override other family bonds. Some hypotheses are put forward to explain why this is the case.

mammismo Italian community in Wellington