The poor distribution of the mental and domestic load is a frequent problem in heterosexual couples. This man had to pay for his lack of involvement in his share of the household chores.
This is a story told by Ouest-France that takes place in China. In this country, a law entered into force in January 2021 in favor of a new Civil Code, defines that"A spouse has the right to claim compensation in the event of a divorce if he or she takes on more responsibility for raising children or caring for elderly parents." A man from Fangshan, a district of Beijing, found out on February 22, 2021 what the true cost of housework and housework is. He was indeed ordered to pay his ex-wife the sum of 50,000 yuan (nearly € 6,400) as compensation. The reason ? His lack of involvement in family chores during their five years of marriage, and in the education of their child.
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While the couple recount a love at first sight meeting and a wonderful romance at first, the arrival of a child upset that balance. The woman says that the child's education was of no interest to Sir at all, so much so that she had to take on all the chores and quit her job to take care of him. Cleaning, ironing, meals, various care… A form of domestic slavery, the young mother said to herself. The situation worsens between the parents, who separate, the mother keeping the care of the child. Monsieur ends up asking for a divorce. The financial compensation he owes today to his ex-wife having been calculated as compensation for domestic work not performed. Even if the sum is considered derisory by Madame, who appealed.
In France too, the arrival of a child upsets the balance in the couple, most often to the disadvantage of the mother in straight couples. This is what associations like Maydée point out, which created an application to quantify the mental load in order to better distribute it. This is also the case with the collective "You thought about", where numerous accounts show how the arrival of a child increases the mother's share of domestic work. Coline Charpentier, creator of this collective, even released a Self-defense guide against mental charge. An essential job, while no scientific study has yet proven the existence of a specific gene for cleaning or changing diapers …