Outcry over textbook’s ‘sexist’ questions

FOR a country with something of a reputation for macho behaviour, it seems like a textbook error.

But one Italian language book featured discussions on whether a woman could dress more sexily, make more of an effort in the kitchen and agree more with her husband in order to please him and avoid marital conflict.

The approach to teaching Italian in the Grammatica della lingua Italiana per Stranieri has led to an outcry by Scots students and equality campaigners.

The row has even been reported in one of Italy’s biggest-selling newspapers, La Repubblica, and led to demands for the Italian publishers, Alma Edizioni, to apologise and drop the offending passages from new editions.

Teacher Lisa Di Lanzo, 33, who teaches adult Italian classes at Williamwood High School in Clarkston, Renfrewshire, said: ‘This is a book that was published in 2015, not 1955. I have seen other incredibly sexist questions in Italian books.

‘Italy has a problem with sexism and inequality and it needs to be tackled.’

Miss Di Lanzo contacted Romebased equality group Scosse, which started a campaign last week complaining the book portrayed lazy stereotypes.

Italy’s honorary consul in Glasgow, Ronnie Convery, praised the teacher for ‘highlighting the demeaning section’.

Florence-based publisher Alma Edizioni reportedly apologised, but also claimed the questions had been meant as a joke.