In India, marriage is considered not just a union between two individuals but a merging of families. Traditionally, a newly married woman moves in with her husband’s family, leaving behind her own home. This practice has been followed for generations and reflects the patriarchal structure of Indian society.
This expectation is rarely questioned as it is seen as a woman’s duty to seamlessly integrate into her husband’s family. The idea of a woman moving in with her in-laws is so normalized that it is almost automatic. But on the other hand, the thought of a man doing the same is repulsive. Many men feel uncomfortable or unwilling to live with their in-laws. They instead prefer to live in a separate household with their spouse.
This was highlighted after a user took to Reddit’s r/AskIndia to ask Indian men if they would move in with their in-laws after marriage.
Men, are you okay to move into your in-laws house after marriage?
byu/CoonInTheShadows inAskIndia
Barring a few, a majority of men expressed their unwillingness to move in with their in-laws. This goes on to show how deep-seated gender roles are in our society. It is made very clear what men’s and women’s responsibilities and places within a marriage are.
Here’s a look at some of the responses to the post:
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byu/CoonInTheShadows from discussion
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Do you not think that it is high time we challenge such gender norms and support more balanced and equitable roles for both men and women in marital relationships?
Cover image source: Unsplash.