‘Misogynistic system’: Indian tech couple’s divorce sparks debate after wife refuses to quit job to care for mother-in-law

A viral post on social media platform X has sparked a wider discussion on gender roles, workplace equality and expectations within marriage after narrating the breakdown of an Indian tech couple’s relationship. According to the post, the marriage ended after the wife refused to quit her high-paying job to take care of her mother-in-law who was sick.

From school romance to corporate success

The post was shared by the woman’s childhood friend, who traced the couple’s journey from a school-time romance to becoming what many described as a “tech power couple.” After completing BTech together, both joined Tech Mahindra, later switching companies, advancing in their careers, getting married and buying a home with their own earnings. The couple has two children.

“A childhood friend fell in love with this guy when we were in +2. They continued that relationship in BTech joined in Tech Mahindra together, changed companies, got married, have two kids. Bought a home with their own money, living a life that is a dream for most of us,” the X post read.

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Career growth after motherhood

The woman’s professional journey featured prominently in the account. After her second pregnancy, she took a six-month career break, changed companies, learned new technologies, and moved domains. Eventually, she started to earn more than her husband.

“Except for post pregnancy 6 months, she never took break. She went to office till 9th month. She is really really hardworking. She feels really happy working for her kids and husband,” the post further read.

Pressure to step away from work

The situation reportedly changed when the husband’s mother fell ill. According to the post, the husband asked his wife to quit her job to provide full-time care. She declined, stating she had already taken career breaks due to childbirth.

Instead, she offered to take care of all the financial expenses if he took a break. “I will take care of finances… now you take a break, I want to continue working,” the post read as the women as saying adding that she would “help out as much as I can with home also”.

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Family conflict and alleged emotional abuse

These proposals were reportedly rejected. The post claimed, “She even offered to ask her mother to come over to look after the kid”, but the mother-in-law was “not comfortable having the girl’s mom at home as it is her son’s home”, despite the couple jointly owning the property. The husband also declined to step back from work.

“When things didn't go their way, they started emotionally abusing her in various ways”, the post also alleged.

Eventually, the woman moved out with her children to her parent's place with the children. Later on, she made a decision to divorce after receiving a legal notice from her husband.

The post concluded, stating, “In a misogynistic system, no matter how hard a woman works, how much she earns, or how much she loves and how much she sacrifices, she is treated as worthless the moment she refuses to give up her autonomy.”

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Netizens react

The account triggered strong reactions online, with many users expressing concern over expectations placed on women to give up financial independence after marriage.

A user on X wrote, “Have seen some lives destroyed due to selfishness of parents and the son not being able to stand up for his wife.” 

Another commented, “Never leave career for inlaws. They find ways to abuse you and then you are not financially independent as well. I always say it's the daughters or daughter in laws taking care of sick parents and not sons.”

A third user wrote, “That gifted girl should go through with the divorce, take 100% custody of the kids and erase the buffoon from her life.”