Birgit Sauer (Uni Wien)

This authoritarian masculinism – experts call it “protective masculinity” – requires a counterpoint: a weak woman worthy of protection who, in traditional patriarchal and heterosexual relationships, serves the man and of course can be sexually subjugated by him. Those of a right-wing authoritarian leaning thus seek to mobilise opposition to the neoliberal notion of women taking up employment, propagating instead traditional roles such as mother and housewife. It’s not only men who do this: female influencers who dub themselves “tradwives” (short for “traditional wife”) make their money from this latter model.


Development and Cooperation, 30.12.2025: The Chainsaw Men