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Today in Cagli, big brothers are still big brothers, but they are no longer surrogate fathers. Family relationships have been changing in Cagli, said both younger and older Cagli residents.

  "If the male was older than his female sibling, then he had the mentality of his father and controlled the life of his younger sister," said historian/councilwoman Lucia Braccini. "In the past, men used to consider women to have no free will. Women have overcome completely now; both men and women are free."

Braccini said that if the brother were older, he would instruct his younger sister where to go, how to dress, whom to associate with, and how to act. He would assume the role of the father and display a great deal of dominance, control and extensive protection.

Now, however, Braccini said, regardless of age, "brother and sister basically have the same rules and regulations; they are equal."

"Equality is the basis of a sibling relationship within a family", said Braccini. Family is regarded as a solid core, the fundamental building block of life in Cagli.

 

 

Federica Gelso, an employee at the grocery store Alimentare, says that her family is extremely close and linked together mentally. "The family relationship is like a snake eating at its tail," like a never-ending-cycle of following and connecting to one another, she said.

Gelso, 29, who grew up in Cagli with her two older sisters, said that the environment in her household was "quite free, but the main rule was to love and respect one another." Regarding dating, she said that her older sisters were a bit jealous. But, when going to clubs and bars, they would carefully watch out for each other.

Regarding the modern version of the traditional relationship, Gelso said that her older male cousins were more protective of her while growing up than her sisters were.

Braccini said that in the old days, it was common for younger female siblings to have to worry about their "big brother" lurking around, looking over their shoulders, and trying to micromanage their lives.

This is not the case in Tommy and Maddalena Camilloni's close-knit relationship. Tommy understands how to fill the shoes of the role of "big brother" in a positive way when dealing with his younger sister. As a 22-year-old, he has never found spending time with his sister a chore because they share the same group of friends.

Tommy said that he never encounters any problems with his family because though he studied and worked, he was referred to as " il figliol prodigo," the one who always comes back.

 

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