Uncover report: Domestic violence as a shadow of patriarchal structures!

Uncover report: Domestic violence as a shadow of patriarchal structures!

In a current report by MDR The alarming issue of domestic violence in Germany is discussed. The authors Julia Cruschwitz and Tarek Khello not only shed light on the personal stories of affected women, but also examine social and cultural structures that promote violence against women. An example is the tragic story of Ilia, who fled Afghanistan and was beaten by her husband.

The report shows that patriarchal structures not only harm women, but also force men into their traditional roles. The classic role model of men is discussed by Baran Venegas, an employee of the feminist project “Heroes” in Berlin. He describes how these expectations of masculinity can lead to the perpetration of violence.

Cultural dimensions of violence

The discussion of domestic violence is also enriched by the concept of cultural violence. Again FKF collective describes, cultural violence is a phenomenon in which patterns of thought and interpretation lead to violence being normalized as part of the social order. These aspects include religion, ideology and other cultural elements that are often used to justify violence.

In many cultures, the culturalization of violence is a political process that serves to legitimize certain forms of violence while stigmatizing others. Gender-based violence in particular is often justified by traditions that are deeply rooted in the respective culture.

Social challenges and reforms

At the political level there is progress, but also significant setbacks. In Germany, Paragraph 177 on sexual assault and rape was reformed in 2016 in order to close legal gaps. Nevertheless points WOZ points out that the political shift to the right has a negative impact on women's rights.

The women's rights organization Medica Mondiale, founded by Monika Hauser, plays a crucial role in supporting women and girls who have been victims of violence in war zones. However, in Germany there is a lack of low-threshold, non-clinical psychosocial approaches that are necessary to offer effective help to refugee women.

In summary, MDR's report shows that combating violence against women is a complex and socially anchored challenge. It is crucial to question patriarchal structures and analyze the cultural background of violence in order to achieve lasting change.