Why only housewives? Madras HC says house husbands should become the new normal to preserve marriages and families

The Madras High Court has said that the term ‘homemaker’ applies to both men and women, observing that husbands taking responsibility for household work could help preserve marriages and families. The court made the remarks while granting a divorce by mutual consent to a doctor-couple whose marriage had broken down beyond repair, a TOI report stated.

A division bench of Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice M D Sumathi said that domestic responsibilities deserve the same respect as earning an income. The judges also observed that changing career priorities among women have affected marital relationships and suggested that more men could choose to become homemakers. “If there can be house wives, there can be house husbands also. Let this become a new normal, as it would help preserve the institution of marriage and family.”