Work never ends for her

Study shows that working women are still slave-driven by in-laws

NEW DELHI: Seventy per cent of India’s working women believe that high expectations from in-laws and husbands are the primary cause for conflicts over small issues, which often lead to disputes and occasionally, to divorces. That contention was revealed in a study conducted by the social welfare foundation of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

The study shows that working women not only have to deal with fierce competition at work, but they also have to face a hostile environment at home where their in-laws and husbands expect them to handle household chores.

The study, which covered more than 1,000 working women in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai found that in 80 per cent of households, in-laws continue to harbour traditional expectations in relation to their working daughters-in-law. “Today’s working woman is doubly stressed,” said Maninder Kaur, a working woman.

“In the office, she has to compete with colleagues to deliver results, and at home she has to strive hard to keep her family happy. After returning from work, the woman has to cook and take care of family needs, no matter how tired she is.”

However, the study found that women who own property, vehicles, or have government jobs, are less likely to encounter physical violence. Women who are professionally qualified and work as doctors, engineers, or chartered accounts seem to enjoy similar immunity from physical abuse. Emphasising that ownership of property and vehicles has a strong negative effect on violence suffered by them, the study points out 35 per cent of those who do not own property experienced physical violence. And an astounding 88 per cent experienced psychological abuse.

Out of home, women’s participation in the labour force and in decision-making roles is low, and harassment and prevalence of domestic violence is high. The study also reveals that 38 per cent of women reported experiencing physical violence at least once in their married life. An alarming seventy-two per cent encountered some form of psychological abuse after marriage.

Domestic violence is high in metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Women cited triggers including not looking after children properly, not attending to household chores, and not cooking to the in-laws’ satisfaction. One-fifth of the women interviewed attributed violence to infidelity: Their husbands were involved with other women, they said, but accused the wives of being unfaithful.