Court Awards Divorced Housewife Compensation

A landmark divorce ruling in Beijing has triggered discussions online after a court awarded a woman 50,000 yuan (US$7352.9) compensation for the housework she performed during her marriage. Court justice Feng Miao told media that he based his ruling on the idea that housework has “intangible property value.” The judgment runs against traditional bias against homemakers in China, where people tend to value domestic contributions less than those of breadwinners. Media reports said that the now abolished Marriage Law mentioned “housework compensation,” but it was long ignored. The newly issued Civil Law stipulates that spouses have a claim to divorce compensation from their partners if they had performed the majority of domestic duties and care for family members. Netizens praised the clause as progress in marriage and gender equality.