Should the financial compensation that housewives receive in the division of divorce property be increased?

Abstract

The aim was to illuminate the core issue of insufficient financial compensation for domestic work performed by housewives post-divorce. The current legal system generally undervalues the “invisible” economic contributions of housewives during marriage, including unpaid housework, childrearing, and supporting their spouse’s career development. This leads to significant economic vulnerability as well as imbalanced rights and interests post-divorce. Reasons for this undervaluation of domestic work were explored by drawing on historical context and the legacy of traditional social values. Current market research was explored through an interview with different housekeeping companies and data collected from a questionnaire regarding the time spent on housework by housewives and the obstacles they faced post-divorce. The paper argued for increased financial compensation for domestic work. Further legal recognition of financial compensation for domestic work not only protects the rights of married women but also prevents them from experiencing divorce poverty. Increasing compensation is a key step toward redressing this legal imbalance and achieving substantive gender equality.