Persistent strain: Unattainable ideals unmet
Current Austrian Norms and Expectations: Pushing the Limits for Moms
In today's Austria, decades-old norms and expectations of what makes a good mother persist, causing unrealistic burdens on women. These ideas are deeply woven into the fabric of society, creating an impossible expectations game for Austrian mothers.
The Pressure Cooker: "Superhuman" Moms
According to Eva-Maria Schmidt from the University of Vienna, mothers are supposed to nurture and care for their children as much, if not more, than possible during their childhood. This idealized mother figure is equated with selfless devotion and happy, positive energy. Yet, suppressing negative feelings or not showing them is a part of the package. The pressure is so high that guilt becomes mothers' ever-present companion, even when they know the ideals are unattainable.
The Tug-of-War: Juggling Family and Career
This push towards family and childcare often leaves little room for personal and professional development, leading to a mental load that can be detrimental to women's mental health. In a fascinating contrast, countries like Denmark and France—with strong accommodations for early institutional childcare—not only promote women's mental well-being but also eliminate the guilt that comes with challenging societal norms.
Part-Time Temptation: Trapped in Tradition
The result of the pressure on women is a high part-time work rate among mothers compared to fathers, despite a desire for quicker reentry into the workforce. Sociologist Bettina Stadler from the University of Graz attributes this to traditional gender roles, which artificially divide parental responsibilities between mothers and fathers, creating major obstacles for mothers' swift and flexible work re-entry.
The Biedermeier Dilemma: Threatening Equality
Many employers and social circles perpetuate these traditional gender roles, making it difficult for mothers to return to work full-time, and thus reinforcing the stereotype that motherhood should be the primary focus. Furthermore, insufficient childcare infrastructure further hinders employment opportunities for mothers, and flexible work hours or opening times for childcare facilities that suit various working parents' needs are scarce.
Impact on Women's Lives
These traditional norms significantly impact women's lives and decisions when it comes to career, family planning, and personal fulfillment.
- Career Impact: The insistent pressure to prioritize childcare can hinder career growth, eventually leading to a decrease in economic and social status.
- Mental Well-being: The constant quest to meet unrealistic expectations can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and strain on mental health.
- Work-Life Balance: Achieving a balance between work and family duties remains a daunting challenge for many mothers in Austria, as societal norms heavily favor family obligations.
In essence, these established norms in Austria significantly impact mothers, limiting their professional growth, affecting their mental health, and making work-life balance a difficult pursuit. While efforts to question and redefine these norms are underway, societal change is progressing slowly, and the weight of expectation remains deeply felt by many Austrian mothers.
- The company of like-minded individuals on platforms such as wissenschaftsnetz can provide a support network for Austrian mothers, offering a space to discuss the challenges they face and share tips for self-care and lifestyle adjustments that are compatible with their science-based careers and family responsibilities.
- By fostering a workplace-wellness culture, companies can help alleviate some of the mental burden on mothers, promoting health-and-wellness initiatives that prioritize mental health, family-health, and womens-health.
- Encouraging parenting support systems, such as flexible work hours and remote work, can help mothers more easily manage their parenting duties and reduce the burden of balancing their professional and family lives.
- Partnerships between companies and organizations dedicated to health-and-wellness can help further efforts to support mothers, promoting a lifestyle that reflects the realities of modern family life without sacrificing career growth or personal fulfillment.
- Addressing the Biedermeier Dilemma requires multiple approaches, including challenging traditional gender roles in the workplace, advocating for policy changes that support family-friendly workplaces, and addressing the lack of childcare infrastructure in Austria.
- The supposed superhuman mother figure is not only unrealistic but also detrimental to the well-being of Austrian mothers. By redefining expectations and promoting a more balanced approach to motherhood, it is possible to improve the lives of mothers, helping them achieve a nurturing family environment, successful careers, and personal fulfillment.
