Bombay HC Says Woman Unwilling To Do Household Chores Should Inform Man Before Marriage. Why Are Women Expected To ‘Clarify’ This?
It is often said that a woman’s life completely changes after marriage. Certainly, it does because now you have a partner, a companionship, and a mutual relationship with another person. This is a good change and I believe is also welcomed by every woman. But then there are some obligatory changes by society that women still have to bear the burden of. By that I mean, that the woman is automatically expected to take the responsibility for the household chores soon after marriage. And recently, during a hearing in the Bombay High Court, the judges mentioned that if the women do not wish to do so, then they should inform the groom about it beforehand so that it can be sorted out prior to the marriage. Well, a very simple question arises here, …but why?
The case that the Bombay High Court dealt with here was an FIR filed by a woman against her husband and in-laws. In the FIR, the woman allegedly made some allegations against them, in which she mentioned being treated as a “maid servant”, and also being abused by the mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Going by the reports on it, the lawyer from the opposing party had claimed that the complainant had previously lodged complaints about the husband and in-laws, which basically states that she has a “habit” of doing it.
Also Read: “Wife Can’t Claim Right To Matrimonial Home Or Shared Household After Leaving It Before Divorce,”: Bombay High Court
Now, as for the court’s side, there were some notable observations. We appreciate the fact that firstly the bench clarified that just because the woman has filed complaints previously, does not justify the statement of her having a habit of it. Also, since there was no valid and clear proof of the allegations the court dismissed filing the FIR under Section 498-A of IPC. But the statement that has made headlines in the case, is that the Bombay High Court stated that just because a woman is made to do household chores, in no way means she is treated as a maidservant. But what caught our attention is here when the court advised women, in general, to clarify before the marriage that she does not intend to do the household tasks, as per the news.
Also Read: “Woman’s Provocative Dress Is Not A Licence To Outrage Her Modesty”, Says Kerala High Court In Sexual Harassment Case. Hear, Hear!
Why are women already expected to take care of this job after marriage? Why do household tasks after marriage still have a gender bias to it? Why cannot it be a shared responsibility, and the man should be aware of it before marriage? We are living in an era where women are working and also have a career to make, why is it expected that the conversations or clarifications about household chores have to come from a woman’s side? It is high time that we end this type of thinking or even encourage it, and it is sad to hear such regressive ideas from the court of law.
