Una partita in ballo

Comment:

The book, which won the 2017 Narrare la Parità award, features a male protagonist, and reminds us that stereotypes, prejudices and empowerment should not be limited only to stories for girls. Tito, the protagonist of Daniele Bergesio’s story, illustrated with irony by Francesco Fagnani, is passionate about rugby, but to prevent him from realizing this dream are his slender body and the shame that he himself feels for being a very good dancer. How can a boy who is good at something that is not “male stuff” feel? Despite fears and embarrassments, Tito manages to defeat the prejudices that he himself feels: who said that there is only one way of doing things? To the sound of music Tito gracefully dances down the field and scores. Tito’s two passions, which at first glance seemed so incompatible, become together his characteristic trait. The book has the great merit of questioning the social pressures that boys are being subjected to, when asked to be strong, bold and resourceful, and it values in a pleasant and ironic way the unusual skills that each of us can use, reminding readers that the most important thing is to believe in themselves. The book, published by the Giralangolo publishing house, is part of the series “Sottosopra” on gender identity and against stereotypes directed by Irene Biemmi.