iamq: No, it never happens. As, indeed, it never happens elsewhere: after 40, you're invisible.

By contrast, 30 years ago, I found Rome very, very licentious in the public manners of the menfolk. E.g. being followed down the street by a car with a single occupant, though I was with my partner.......

Iamq, why wait that long? Just come to the GTG tomorrow, we all will be happy to pinch you

Faina,
When did you become a man?
-Bill

Are you all telling me it's all a myth, the Italian men really DON'T pinch?? Well that does it, I'm NOT going there!! [-(

Can someone recommend a country where I can get at least one good pinch a day?

BTW, good luck in Rome, Bill. I hope the Roman men like you more than they like me.

We read this and by the third day were highly offended no one bothered to try!

Dierdre-
re
"Walking into the office, I met my boss heading out to have coffee. And he patted me on the butt."

So did you slap him silly, grab him by the ear, and walked him straight home to mamma?

As a man, I have never experienced that type of actions that hti sthread discusses whether in Italy or the US.

However, it does bother me when some of the people on this thread think that picnhing is humurous. This may be an early warning that those "touchers" belive it is OK to later assault women.

Abuse whether by friends, relatives, or starngers is never acceptable.

It is alos applaing t Diedre statde her boss patted her on the butt in the office and she thinks it is funny. If she was my wife, I would have him fired for sexual harrassment.

The "old" view that women are to be used by men is a stereotype that will never b changed until it is univeraslly accepted that it is wrong.

I like jokes but some issues do not lend themselves to humor such as this.

I didn't say I thought the pat on the butt was funny - but, in the context, I couldn't help laughing. And we've known each other a very long time, so I know it's not harassment.

I think people (tourists) romanticize fondling but would the same people feel the same way at home? Is it flattering to have a stranger pinch you in the supermarket? on the street? I would be insulted to have a boss pat my hiney! I don't know what I would do but the situation wouldn't be positive that is for sure.

I agree and would never laugh at this kind of disrespect, especially not in the workplace from someone I iknew well. Not funny, and a good example of a time when make yourself clear and setting a professional boundary is in order!!

Re: the appropriateness of physical attention from the opposite (or same) sex. ... Don't you think that *context* is everything? AND context within context!

So, I don't know, but I kinda think it might be somewhat presumptuous to make sweeping generalizations like "You should never let your boss do this", or "You should never allow yourself to be touched in that way". Or maybe it's not presumptuous, but naive &/or dogmatic?

Just my humble opinion, as a know-nothing female in a big ol' scary world (JK on the last part!)

Do you mean if you are the bosses wife?
or girlfriend?

that, too, seaurchin!

I guess I have a problem when somebody tells me that there's a rule that can't be broken. Life's too complex -- & too rich with undiscovered, unexpected, unanticipated moments. Don't get me wrong: I like guide books a lot, they're invariably quite helpful -- but I use them discriminately.

Troll.

If the I were the bosses' wife or girlfriend I would still have a problem with having my bottom patted or touched while I was in the workplace, during the workday. It's very disprespectful in my opinion, so I wouldn't percieve it as funny, even if I outwardly laughed, to keep the peace.

PS sorry for the spelling errors, I'm writing in the middle of the night, and my boyfriend just pinched me, so I was dirstracted!!!

You guys have been a hoot!!! We have only just returned from Italy and were never pinched. My daughter and I were treated with nothing but respect. I can see now that Italian men would see my original post with nothing but distaste. They were the epitome of taste. I can't believe the intelligence level of the posters in this arena, and am very impressed with all you had to offer. Thank you so much for enlightening our visit.

ValSal.