Machismo Challenged

Ahh... imagine the amusement and enjoyment Kitty-Time felt as she read this article in today's Washington Post about former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi's wife, Veronica Lario, publicly berating him for disrespectful behavior.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/31/AR2007013102438.html

Such public humiliation coming from a woman in one of the most machismo-filled societies in the Western World? C'est Vrai!

What satisfaction millions of women around the world must be feeling when they hear the news. Many of them can live vicariously, I'm sure. After all, if the wife of the former Prime Minister berates her husband on the front page of his nemesis newspaper, well then, surely, we all can find the courage to do it in the confines of our own homes!

What is most significant to me is that it happened in Italy. Isn't this the place where adult men still live with their mothers and expect their laundry to be done, their shirts pressed and warm meals waiting for them when they return from work? We are talking about 30 year old's, people.

And so, in this very machismo-laden culture, publicly berating her husband for humiliating her and disrespecting her is a beautiful thing. If you read the article, you will see that Ms. Lario has had enough after 27 years and felt it was important to challenge her husband's behavior to teach her children that women must be respected.

Have we found a new hero for all women with obnoxious husbands?

I'm thinking yes.

Also, Kitty-Time is intrigued by the way Ms. Lario handled this situation. Clearly she has been embarrassed by her husband innumerable times over the last 27 years. Was this just the straw that broke the camel's back?

Most significant, I think, is that she chose to do it publicly and set an example for him.

It is a breath of fresh air to see a scorned woman give it to her husband, particularly in the public arena. I don't know about you, but I have grown a little tired of watching women stand by their husbands when they don't deserve. Stand up for yourselves, women!

Two that come to mind are: Hillary Clinton and wife of former gay New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey. I can't say that I fully respected how quietly Hillary stood by her husband after he publicly humiliated her not just once, but twice, with his torrid affairs. And did anyone else find themselves wondering why in the hell McGreevey's wife stood next to him as he announced to the world that he is gay and was having an affair with a male staffer? Why was she there? WHY?
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/12/mcgreevey.nj/


So - hat's off to Ms. Lario for handing it to her husband and teaching her children that women must receive and demand respect from their husbands.