The family is very important in Tyrol and is considered a place of refuge. However, the family is also the place where most violence takes place. We have taken a closer look at this. Laura Volgger is part of a team from the University of Innsbruck that conducts research on the topic of (sexualized) violence in families. In an interview with the “Krone” she explains why this is often kept secret.
“Kron”:Why is the family model so successful?
Laura Volgger: Good question. The family – and by that I mean the heterosexual nuclear family – is, as it were, the state in miniature. It is so successful as a model because it promises protection and stability for both members within the family and for the core values of the state. The state delegates its power to the family, usually to the head of the family. And this is where the problem begins: within the family, people are assigned traditional roles based on their gender, and those roles are organized hierarchically. For a long time, the man was considered the head of the family, and his wife and children had to submit to him. The man is assigned to the public sphere, the woman to the ‘private’ sphere, namely the household and raising children. This model is extremely profitable for the state: it saves millions because the care work in the family is unpaid. Because where else do so many women do unpaid care work that is presented as a ‘labor of love’ – of course without pay or pension rights? Where women do so much free work that is unfortunately not even seen as work?
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
