A landmark divorce case in China has generated huge debate after a man was ordered to pay his wife 50,000 yuan (£5,460) for five years of domestic labour. Whilst many feel that the amount did not adequately compensate her value, others state that men should be shouldering more household duties which still remain unfairly distributed between the sexes. It represents another step in increasing the rights of women in China, where they have been pushing for fairer treatment and better wages in recent years.
So what?
Whilst being another important step for decreasing the discrimination of women in China, recognising the economic value of women’s contribution to the household has implications for many countries where women shoulder the brunt of domestic labour. By putting a price on housework, it enables women to take greater strides towards re-dressing the gender balance at home which could liberate them both in regard to their time and potential income.
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