What is the social status of men and women in an Italian family?

Within the family, the males reign supreme and Italian men are noted for their manliness and affected posturing. Males also force women into submission, and the men may have many romantic affairs and their wives have no right to question or object to this behavior. The author cautions against making such broad generalities but does confirm the role of the man as head of the household with the wife in a subordinate role maintaining the home and caring for the children. In fact, Italian mothers take on an almost divine role in the family paralleling the role of Mary the mother of Jesus, a relationship very much revered in Italian culture.