Guido (slang)

Guido (/ˈɡwiːdoʊ/, Italian: [ˈɡwiːdo]) is a North American subculture, slang term, and ethnic slur referring to working-class urban Italian-Americans.

[5] The term is used in states and metropolitan areas associated with large Italian-American populations, such as New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and Providence.

[10][11] Although MTV removed the term from some promotions, it remains closely associated with the show, and some of the cast members use it regularly to describe themselves while the females sometimes refer to themselves as a "guidette",[4] despite the pronunciation of the feminized ‘ette’ suffix being of French origin and not Italian.

[12] In regards to the "guido" stereotype and the depiction of working class Italian-American communities in American film, Peter Bondanella contends that: "Although some films view the working class as a potentially noble and dignified group, others see the working-class Italian American as a Guido or Guidette - part of a tasteless, uneducated […] group of characters with vulgar gold chains, big hair, and abrasive manners.

"[13] Clothing often associated with the "Guido" stereotype includes gold chains[1] and bracelets (often herringbone chains, figaro chains, cornicellos, or saints' medallions), pinky rings, oversized gold or silver crucifixes; rosaries worn as necklaces, working class clothing such as plain white T-shirts, muscle shirts, sleeveless undershirts[14] or "guinea Ts"; leather jackets; sweat or tracksuits; coppola caps or scally caps; unbuttoned or open dress shirts, especially paired with sleeveless undershirts; Italian knit shirts, designer brand T-shirts such as Armani,[15] and often typical Southern Italian "tamarro" or "truzzo" club dress.