The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has observed that the increasing number of women pursuing careers is taking a toll on marital relationships and suggested that husbands could opt to become homemakers to help preserve marriages and families, as reported in The New Indian Express.
A bench of Justices GR Swaminathan and MD Sumathi made the observations recently while granting a mutual consent divorce to a doctor couple.
The judges noted that traditionally, the responsibility of earning financial resources rested with the husband, while the wife managed domestic responsibilities. However, the court observed that this arrangement has changed over the years, with women increasingly becoming career-oriented.
According to the court, this shift has contributed to difficulties in some marital relationships.
“The situation can probably be remedied if husbands opt to be homemakers. If there can be housewives, there can be househusbands also. Let this become a new normal. We are of the view that this would help preserve the institution of marriage and family,” the judges opined.
The court made the observations while dealing with the divorce petition filed by a doctor couple who had married in 2011. Both the husband and wife were employed at the same hospital.
The husband later wanted to pursue higher studies, following which the wife stayed at her parents’ home, while he visited her from time to time.
During this period, the couple had two children, who were brought up by the wife at her parents’ home.
The court subsequently granted the couple a mutual consent divorce while making the observations on changing gender roles within marriage and family life.
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