Comfort and freedom for young Italian men

‘Real life is outside, at home there is only protection and not much else.’ Calvino, 28, Milan

Young men in Italy have it all – they stay in the family home for extended periods, and are given more freedom as parents become more lenient. This experience is creating a generation of overprotected while boundless men. Safe from the unstable reality of modern life, yet free to come and go with friends. Young Italian men are surrounded by a secure family support structure, but also indulge in hedonistic activities typical of a generation with more lifestyle choices than they can handle.

Traditional routes into ‘adulthood’ such as starting a first job, leaving home, getting married and having children are now elongated and in some instances, completely side stepped. Lengthened time in education and high youth unemployment has meant that for many young men leaving the parental home is financially impossible whilst for some it is an active choice to provide them with stability. Whereas they prefer the warmth and protection of their family’s home, binge culture is a frequent occurrence. The consumption of drugs and alcohol has increased in Italy, particularly among post-teen males. Many drink with large a group of friends well into their thirties, a result perhaps of less authoritarian parents and carefree lifestyles.