Guido (slang)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guido is a term for a stereotypical young working class Italian-American male from the urban Northeastern United States, often New York. The classic guido is often portrayed as humorously and incorrigibly uncultured, with a macho attitude towards women and an unyielding pride in his Italian ancestry. The term is likely derived from the Italian proper name Guido, and is used and recognized particularly around New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Buffalo, Boston and Providence, due to the large Italian-American populations of these regions.
The term has many uses, and is sometimes considered derogatory or an ethnic slur; however, it is also used as a term of endearment in areas where "guido" culture is common. Many people will also use the term as an adjective, to describe an article of clothing or a person. Often the shortened term "Guid" will be used instead, as in "That jacket is so guid."
The term has been used when stereotyping Italian-Americans as trying to maintain a flashy appearance by dressing in gold chains, unbuttoned dress shirts, tank tops, and North Face or leather jackets. One of the most common characteristics of a guido is the "blowout", or "tapeup", hairstyle, consisting of an use of hair gel or pomade to attain a spiked appearance. Slicked-backed hair is also a common "Guido" stereotype.
American popular culture has shown "Guidos" in such films as Goodfellas, Risky Business, Summer of Sam, and My Cousin Vinny, and in television series like HBO's The Sopranos. The best example of modern-day "Guidos" is A&E's Growing Up Gotti, whose characters are the role models of many teenage "Guidos". The film Kiss Me, Guido uses the slang term in its title (the "Guido" referred to actually being named Frankie). Other examples of "Guidos" are the main characters in the films The Godfather and Rocky.
In Canada, particulary in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver communities, the term "Gino" is in many ways the equivalent term (although there are some aesthetic differences). In Australia, the same stereotype is known but no exact term is made other than "wog".
