Iāve thought about Giovanniās relationship with gender quite a lot. He was a man living in Renaissance Italy so there was obviously the pressure to uphold the strict gender roles at the time, but my idea is that being the second son he would be in constant comparison to Mario, heir and the spare dynamics and all that, but also in the way of growing up Mario was the much stronger, masculine brother as opposed to the more emotional, bookish Giovanni. Mario had a much easier time conforming to the ideal of masculinity being the future Lord of Monteriggioni.Ā
Giovanni always felt like he lived in Marioās shadow, not the oldest, strongest, brashest son. So he found other ways. If he could not be the strong one he would be intelligent. If he could not be emotionless then he would be sentimental. If he could not prove his manhood through how imposing he was he would overcompensate by sleeping around and fighting for fun. Ā
It didnāt work. Not necessarily. He blended in as anyone had to but he would never be the ideal son and heir like Mario. So he grew up with a quiet disconnect from manhood. He neither quite enjoyed it or outright hated it. His gender was just another role he had to perform such as being a banker or assassin. A matter of convenience.Ā
Giovanni at one point tried on a dress as a teenager, perhaps as a dare or after losing an ill-advised bet, then was a little too reluctant to take it off. When he was younger his hair was much longer, down to his waist but he had to cut it when his life got too laden with responsibility and he realized he couldnāt take care of it anymore. He still misses it.Ā
I can imagine how these feelings would have been exacerbated when he realized he was indeed bisexual. Another demotion against him. A sexual pervert with unnatural desires.Ā
Giovanni canāt deal with any complicated emotions though. He has more important things to worry about like providing for and protecting his family. Things that cannot allow any shred of deviancy. For that would be weak. And men cannot be weak.Ā
I donāt think he would ever truly process his feelings about his gender. Not in the canon timeline at least. But if he had modern labels he would be peak āIām probably nonbinary but I have a job so I canāt worry about that right now.āĀ
This makes me think about trans Ezio. Ezio seems like he was the type growing up to idolize his father. After all, he was noted to look exactly like Giovanni, and act just like him, and Ezio was the one to be taught banking, Ezioās the one with the eagle vision. And I like the idea of Ezio being a little clone of his dad.Ā
But that complicates things if Ezio is born female. He would be the perfect son and heir if not for him being born second and a girl. Ezio grows up to be a pretty gender non conforming kid. Fighting, hunting, banking, flirting with his brother rather than learning needlepoint with his sister.Ā
Giovanni gets many comments that heās being too indulgent to his daughter. That Ezio is too mannish and will grow up to be a whore or an unmarriageable spinster.Ā
Giovanni canāt help but empathize with Ezio though. Maybe Ezio will never marry or bring shame to the family but he would rather have his child be unburdened with responsibility for as long as he can. Heās waited wanted to raise children, not assassins.Ā
Meanwhile Ezio is having a heart attack trying to figure out how to come out to his dad. Heās told Federico by now, his closest confidant. Like Giovanni, inadequate for manhood not just by timing of birth but also by the sin of his genitals. Always in comparison to Federico. Only now it matters less what is inside and more the externalities.Ā
Ezio sees Giovanni and he knows who he wants to mold himself to be. He has the paragon of manhood in his eyes as a father.Ā Yet another reason to be a failure.Ā But Ezio is courageous first and foremost. And he will face the unknown of his fatherās reaction.Ā
He canāt leave any room for doubt. So he goes to Giovanni with his hair choppily cut short, wearing ill fitting clothes Federico lent him and very firmly declares that he is not a daughter but a son.Ā
In that moment Giovanni remembers. Remembers being a failure of manhood in the way Mario could only conform too well to. He remembers being gentle, being soft, being bookish. And he understands.Ā
He lets Ezio be a boy. Perhaps this is right. Perhaps sometimes there were girls who were just better off being boys. Ezio certainly had the soul of one.Ā
And perhaps if Giovanni can allow Ezio to be male in all ways maybe he can allow himself things. Giovanni could let his hair grow out, maybe the occasional indulgence of a dress. Because if Ezio can be male without the external qualities then what should manhood mean to him? If manhood can be defined on qualities then what is Giovanni? Maybe he is simply comfortable.Ā