Dispelling the Myth of an Idle Wife: Recognizing the Gendered Burden of Unpaid Domestic and Care Work in India
On February 19, 2026, Verdict The one presented by the honorable Dr. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma’s plea in the Delhi High Court expressed the invisible realities of women’s economic freedom in India, especially after marriage.
Applications (Crl. Rev. P. 718 of 2024 and Crl. MA 16466 of 2024) were filed with the court for relief from matrimonial disputes and for the award of maintenance to wife and children. In response to the arguments of the husband’s lawyer, in which she urged the courts “to be cautious in considering maintenance claims of women who, despite their earning capacity after marriage, choose not to do so and seek to support themselves on the husband’s earnings,” the Honorable Dr. Justice Swarna Kantha Sharma drew attention to the societal context of marital expectations on women in India, which prevent them from achieving financial independence unlike their male counterparts.
Furthermore, the court astutely recognized that:
“The assumption that a non-working spouse is ‘idle’ reflects a misunderstanding of domestic contribution. Running a household, caring for children, supporting the family, and adjusting one’s life to the career and transfers of the working spouse are all forms of work, even if they are unpaid and often unrecognized. Calling inactivity idleness is easy; recognizing the work involved in maintaining a household is far more more difficult.”
The idea of equating women’s domestic contributions with being idle and therefore not adding value to society is known as Unpaid Domestic and Care Work (UDCW). While UDCW can be performed by anyone, patriarchal norms typically dictate that women undertake these tasks. According to statistics, 75% of UDCWs worldwide are carried out by women report by UN Women.
What is unpaid domestic and care work? (UDCW)?
UN Women’s Progress of the World’s Women 2000, UNIFEM biennial report defines unpaid domestic and care work as follows: “The term ‘unpaid’ distinguishes this care from paid care provided by employees of the public and NGO sectors (non-governmental organizations) as well as by employees and self-employed people in the private sector. The word ‘care’ indicates that the services provided are of service to other people. The word ‘work’ indicates that these activities are time and energy consuming and are undertaken as obligations (contractual or social).”
Unpaid care work includes cooking, cleaning, caring for the elderly, children, the sick and other domestic work that does not entitle the provider to any financial benefit. However, in 2025, UN Women recognized how the UDCW drives the economy and is a sector in its own right when a monetary value is placed on this work. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that this would be the case exceed 40% of GDP. However, because UDCW is often not included in standard economic metrics, it is rarely recognized as work.
Furthermore, the burden of UDCW worldwide is disproportionately borne by women. It is estimated that women around the world get involved every 24 hours 16 billion hours UDCW. The ILO estimates that this means approx 379 million women around the worldaged between 25 and 54, are not employed due to the disproportionate share of UDCW they bear.
While UDCW disproportionately impacts women everywhere, it becomes a more serious problem when it is made invisible and such invisibility is normalized. In a densely capitalist society whose main driver is economic prosperity, financial freedom and independence are essential. The need for financial freedom and independence becomes even more important for marginalized groups and identities to overcome this marginalization and seek opportunities. While patriarchy demands gendered roles that limit women to being at home and taking on caregiving responsibilities, capitalism assigns an individual’s worth based on their ability to build wealth. As these two systems work together, this leads to the invisibility of the UDCW, making the work of women in care roles appear worthless.
Acknowledging the invisibility of the UDCW in the Indian context
As evident from the judgment of Honorable Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, there is a tendency in Indian society to believe that when a partner is unemployed and assumes the responsibility of the household, he is “idle” and takes the decision not to contribute financially. The ruling is significant because it exposes for the first time the hypocrisy of Indian society, which expects women to give up their careers to marry, become mothers and care for the elderly, while discrediting the physical and mental labor required to be a wife, mother, daughter and daughter-in-law. In addition, such hypocrisy also creates the illusion that men are self-made, when in reality they are able to realize their ambitions in the outside world because the women in their family tacitly take responsibility for the world inside. If so Invisibility is normalizedThis leads to increased systemic inequality between men and women. In the Indian context, this can be observed in the increasing online narratives about equating alimony with dowry, the increased risk of economic abuse of women, under-investment in care systems, and a culture that weaponizes men’s incompetence.
Law and Politics as a Path to Recognition of the UDCW in India
India has shown a strong correlation between liberal judgment protecting women’s freedom and the enactment of women-centric laws. For example, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) came into force as a direct result of the Supreme Court verdict Vishaka v State of RajasthanRecognizing the need for a comprehensive policy framework to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Expanding the myth of the idle woman
Inspired by Vishaka v. Union of India must comply with the proposal presented by the honorable Dr. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma identified the myth of the “Idle Wife Doctrine” to be further developed in Indian jurisprudence and legislation. The doctrine can be applied to alimony cases if necessary. When calculating maintenance at the time of divorce, the UDCW paid by the wife (or husband) during the period of marriage should be taken into account. The calculation of maintenance should not be limited to the income and lifestyle of the spouse, but should also quantify and compensate for the unrecognized deductible made by the spouse.
- Building care and support infrastructures to adapt to UDCW
A large part of the responsibility that UDCW bears is due to a lack of infrastructure. According to the National Family Health Survey conducted between 2019 and 2021, 13% of girls in India drop out of school every year to do household chores. These tasks typically include activities such as caring for siblings in the family or the elderly. By investing in child and elder care infrastructure, India can ease the burden on young schoolgirls to prioritize UDCW over their education. This helps create a culture where women are encouraged to pursue opportunities in the outside world.
- Advocating for the UDCW and encouraging men to share responsibility to promote fair redistribution
The long-term solution to combat UDCW is to encourage men to participate in household tasks that are strictly viewed as “women’s roles.” It should be taught that work has no gender, whether in the home or out in the world. A culture of collaboration needs to be created, where men are called into their homes to share responsibility, while at the same time conveying that it is important for women to have their own financial freedom. This will help create a level playing field where no gender is completely dependent on the other for its social existence.
UDCW is so culturally embedded in us that we often overlook the nuanced marginalization it leads to for women. This recent judgment of the Delhi High Court sheds some light on the need to recognize the efforts of women across the country for UDCW. The ruling should gain momentum in our society to pave the way for institutional change and equitable shared responsibility between men and women.
Sruthi (she/her) is a lawyer working in international development and committed to advancing justice through policy, law and data. With an international law and analytics background from NYU, she is deeply committed to redesigning and building systems through an intersectional and integrative perspective. Her responsibilities include advising on the Telangana Rising Vision 2047 document, contributing to inclusive digital ecosystems at UNDP, advising international development organizations and serving as a clerk at the Telangana High Court.
