SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024
CS Krishnamurthy
The Supreme Court recently emphasized the immeasurable value of homemakers, equating their role to tangible income earners. Justices Suryakant and KV Vishwanathan increased compensation to Rs 6 lakh in a motor accident case, recognising the invaluable contributions of a deceased homemaker.
The owner was held liable for the compensation. Initially awarded Rs 2.5 lakh, her family appealed for more, rejected by the Uttarakhand High Court citing her homemaking role. The Supreme Court asserted that a homemaker's worth cannot be undermined. Directing prompt payment, the top court emphasisead never to undervalue homemakers' contributions.
Judges in India have viewed marriage as an “equal economic relationship”. Certain legal scholars have argued that unpaid housework is “forced labour”, and it’s important to recognise the “value of domestic work”. But what is not well known is that for more than half-a-century, Indian courts have actually been awarding compensation for unpaid work done by homemakers, but only after death.
Justice N V Ramana in one of his judgements addressed the issue of recognising the notional income of homemakers in a landmark verdict. Determining fair compensation based on their contributions proves challenging. Previously, Courts acknowledged that a wife's role in the household is invaluable and cannot be simply quantified in monetary terms.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women stresses the importance of measuring and quantifying women's unremunerated domestic activities, which significantly contribute to national development.
In India, homemakers' contributions to their families have often been overlooked. In a society where men typically hold dominant roles, many believe that women naturally belong in the home and thus their efforts aren't worthy of recognition. However, times are changing, and laws are evolving to acknowledge the equality across genders. Yet, the significant contributions of individuals, especially homemakers, to both micro and macro economies, have often gone unnoticed.
A report of National Statistical Office titled “Time aUse in India-2019” indicated that, on an average, women spend “299 minutes a day” on “unpaid domestic services for household members” versus “97 minutes by men”. Similarly, women spend “134 minutes on unpaid caregiving services for household members as compared to 76 minutes by men”.
The historical evolution of gender roles within families and workplaces has spurred significant debates and implications. The changing dynamics have prompted discussions surrounding the role of women within households and the recognition, or lack thereof, of the value they bring.
By tending to domestic matters and caring for children, housewives not only support their families but often extend their assistance to others in the community through volunteering and childcare. Hence, just as workers are remunerated for their efforts, aren’t housewives, or occasional husbands, entitled to compensation for their domestic contributions? This inquiry delves into the realms of entitlement, economics, and social beliefs.
Multiple workloads
Housework has traditionally been treated as a woman’s responsibility in India. A homemaker often prepares food for the entire family, manages the procurement of groceries and other shopping needs, cleans and manages the house and its surroundings, undertakes decorations, repairs and maintenance of work, looks after the needs of children and any aged member of the household, manages budgets and so much more.
This gives credence to the idea that these activities contribute in a real way to the economic condition of the family, though it may have been excluded from the economic analysis. Actually homemakers are the foundation for other family members to the healthy and sound mind. Their contribution is equally, if not more, significant than what work men do in office. Homemaking is difficult job which mothers do thanklessly without complaining across the world.
The entitlement for pay stems from the philosophical premise that individuals deserve compensation for the products of their labour. Although the labour of housewives revolves around services rather than tangible goods, its outcome is equally significant.
Beyond monetary transaction
Gender stereotypes have long perpetuated the notion that a woman's place is within the confines of the home, thereby assigning an inferior social status compared to the corporate breadwinner role typically associated with men. This pattern not only shapes women's self-perception but also influences societal attitudes towards them. Offering monetary compensation to housewives challenges these stereotypes and elevates their status within the household. By empowering women economically, it acknowledges their invaluable contributions and challenges traditional hierarchies.
Economic dependence is a pervasive issue affecting women's rights, particularly in developing countries. Many women find themselves confined to the home due to societal norms, lack of opportunities, or coercion from their spouses. Financially reliant on their husbands, unpaid housewives often face limited freedom within their households. Offering compensation for housework empowers women economically, enabling them to break free from shackles of dependency.
This recognition paves the way for women to pursue broader avenues of personal and professional fulfillment, breaking away from the restrictions of traditional gender roles.
In countries where women are traditionally relegated to domestic roles, initiatives aimed at recognising and remunerating housework have yielded positive outcomes. For instance, in certain Nordic countries, policies such as caregiver allowances and parental benefits acknowledge the invaluable contributions of homemakers to the family unit. These measures not only provide financial support, but also feed a culture of appreciation for the diverse roles within the household.
The recognition of housewives as economic stakeholders serves as a catalyst for broader societal change, fostering inclusive attitudes towards gender and labour dynamics.
Elevating the status of home-keeping acknowledges the importance of women's roles within families and society at large. Furthermore, it provides economic autonomy to housewives, reducing dependence on spouses and promoting greater freedom, particularly in regions where women face social and economic constraints.
By compensating housewives for their invaluable contributions, society takes a decisive stride towards fostering gender equality and social inclusion, ensuring that the labour of women within the household is justly acknowledged and valued.
(CS Krishnamurthy is a retired banker and the author of the book 'Money Does Matter')
