If there can be housewives, there can be house husbands also; let

HC judges say ‘house husbands’ can help make marriage a ‘win-win’ proposition

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dissolved the marriage of a doctor couple by mutual consent, while saying that the expression “home maker” is gender-neutral and that husbands choosing domestic roles could help preserve marriage and family.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and M.D. Sumathi made the observations while hearing civil miscellaneous appeals filed by the doctor couple.

Court calls ‘home maker’ gender-neutral

“If there can be housewives, there can be house husbands also. Let this become a new normal. We are of the view that this would help preserve the institution of marriage and family. The expression ‘home maker’ is gender-neutral,” the Bench said.

The judges said that, “Unlike modern western societies, in Bharatiya culture, it is the family and not the individual that is the foundational unit.”

The court noted that, traditionally, the responsibility of raising financial resources rested on the husband, while the wife took care of the domestic front.

It said both roles are entitled to equal respect.

The Bench also recorded that this position has been changing over the last half a century.

Women, the court said, are increasingly becoming career oriented.

Judges refer to impact on relationships

“We note that this is taking a toll on many relationships, particularly in the IT sector,” the judges said.

The Bench observed that marriage is not proving to be a “win-win proposition” for career women.

It said that since such women see marriage as an impediment to their career prospects, they choose to skip it altogether.

“The number of unmarried women is on the rise,” the judges said.

The court added that the situation “can probably be remedied if husbands would opt to be home makers.”

‘Nothing to be embarrassed about’

The Bench also commented on changing attitudes to the term “housewife.”

“Until a while ago, women would happily introduce themselves as housewives,” the judges said.

“These days, they put on an embarrassed look and say, ‘just a housewife’, even though there is nothing to be embarrassed about,” the court said.

The Bench said housewives are not “little women”, referring to the famous title of the book by Louisa May Alcott.

It also referred to Alcott’s words: “I would rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe.”

Divorce decree tied to financial obligations

In the appeals before it, the court said both parties had agreed that the marriage can be dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent.

The Bench said the relationship between the parties had broken down beyond repair.

“The marriage that was solemnised between the parties is dissolved by a decree of divorce by mutual consent,” the court said.

The judges made it clear that the decree of divorce will come into force only upon the fulfilment of the financial obligations undertaken by the man before the court.

The order was published on September 24, 2026, at 08:27 pm IST.

Source: The Hindu