HONG KONG – What is the value of housework, like washing the dishes or vacuuming?
A historic decision in China sparked intense debate by setting the answer at around $ 4 a day.
In a divorce court in Beijing, a judge ruled earlier this month that a woman should receive 50,000 yuan (about $ 7,700) for “domestic work” after her husband’s separation.
Chinese state media names the woman as Ms. Wang and said she married her husband, Chen, in 2015, before separating and divorcing five years later. The couple has a son.
In an unprecedented decision of this kind, Wang was granted compensation for domestic work under a new Civil Code, which came into force in China in January. A cornerstone of President Xi Jinping’s effort to reform the country’s legal system, the code seeks to strengthen personal rights.
“When one of the spouses undertakes additional duties of raising children, caring for the elderly or assisting the other spouse in their work, that spouse has the right to claim compensation in the event of divorce against the other party,” according to the Article 1088 of the Civil Code.
Judge Feng Miao, of Beijing’s Fangshan District People’s Court, shared the couple’s joint physical property and relied on the Civil Code to decide on “intangible assets” resulting from the marriage, which included domestic work, she told state media on Monday.
The judge added that the courts would need to “accumulate experience” to determine the amount of compensation in such cases in the future.
The case sparked a heated public debate on social media in China about gender rights and responsibilities.
While many welcome the legal recognition of domestic duties as progressive, others criticize the value accorded to Wang, noting the high cost of living in Beijing – saying the funds would barely cover the salary of a maid or nanny in the capital.
A hashtag about the case received over 570 million views on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, and about 22,000 discussions.
“There is no clear standard on the amount of damages. However, the court made the calculation based on the period of marriage, family income, community standard of living and more,” Beijing divorce lawyer Yi Yi told reporters. NBC News on Wednesday.
Yi, director of the Beijing Jiali law firm, said earlier that protections under the new Civil Code heralded “a spring” for women working at home, but said that despite the decision, women still bear the brunt of most women. housework.
“This is a problem with the unequal gender structure that women should sacrifice more for the family. I think that such a social concept should be changed … The family and domestic work are built by both the husband and the wife, not by a single party, ”she added. .
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A 2018 study by the National Bureau of Statistics of China on domestic work and gender in Beijing found that, with the improvement of women’s education and work opportunities, the degree of gender inequality in domestic work hours has gradually decreased. However, among the older generations, he found that there was still a high degree of inequality in the time of domestic work, such as cooking and shopping, between men and women.
The treatment of women in China is also under greater scrutiny since the global #MeToo movement, with more women speaking out against sexual harassment and discrimination and the need for stronger rights.
For Xu Dongmei, 54, a housewife in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, Wang’s case made her reflect on her own domestic situation.
Although she said it would be “cruel” not to receive any compensation for a life dedicated to the family, she told NBC News that she felt no less about not having an income.
“I made a difficult decision for my son. I felt a sense of loss as I lost my independent income,” she said. Adding, however, “when I give love and accompany my son and watch him grow up in a happy environment, I feel my worth”.
Reuters contributed to this report
Xin Chen contributed.