New inn in Vienna: Where is the home cooking?

New inn in Vienna: Where is the home cooking?

When you stop by one of Vienna's taverns, you often notice that home cooking dominates the menus. But this term has much more to do with gender roles and historical circumstances than one might initially think. An article in the press brings to light that for many people the term “home cooking” still conveys the idea of ​​a traditional gender role model.

The etymology shows that “househusband” dates back to the 16th century and refers to the male head of the household who reinforces traditional role models. Similar patriarchal structures are encountered in many cultures. While the Italian language conveys a more feminine note with “Cucina casalinga”, the English term “home cooking” remains gender neutral. The Swedish term “husmanskost” has very similar old-fashioned connotations to our “home cooking”.

A look at the origins

History shows that the idea of ​​male superiority is relatively new. Loud National Geographic It arose with the emergence of agricultural societies around 12,000 years ago. Back then, people lived as hunters and gatherers in relatively egalitarian communities. But as societies became sedentary, power relations and social structures shifted, leading to a strengthening of patriarchal narratives.

The Neolithic Revolution brought not only a new way of life, but also health challenges for women, who were often weakened by pregnancy and agricultural work. As women gained ownership of land and resources, they increasingly lost the support structures they had been used to. The myth of male dominance continued to prevail, leading to the exclusion of women from political and economic decision-making processes.

Cultural implications and current attitudes

As the current survey on gender distribution in social tasks shows, the gender-typical division of roles remains an issue in the 21st century. Around 40% of those surveyed are of the opinion that women are better suited to caring for children, while around a quarter are of the opinion that tasks are clearly assigned to women. This shows that despite progress in equality, old ways of thinking are still very popular. Only around 70% of those surveyed would like duties to be shared equally between the genders, as shown bpb.de is to be read.

So it remains to be said: The term “home cooking” is not just a culinary expression, but also reflects deeply rooted social structures that have grown over centuries. It is time to question these old patterns and break down gender stereotypes in the pub too. After all, good food is not just a question of tradition, but also of equality.