The man in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu claimed that his wife subjected him to "cruelty" when she watched pornography and satisfied herself. Therefore, he believed he had the right to divorce her.
The High Court in Chennai (Madras) disagrees. Women retain the right to sexual self-determination and a private life even after marriage, they emphasize: "masturbation is not forbidden fruit".
"When masturbation among men is universally accepted, female masturbation cannot be stigmatized", the verdict reads, continuing:
"After marriage, a woman becomes a wife, but she is still her own individual."
In patriarchal India, women's sexuality is generally spoken of in hushed tones, especially regarding married women. After entering into marriage, Indian women are expected to prioritize their husbands and children over themselves. Women are encouraged to suppress their sexuality, which, according to observers, is a legacy from the British conservative colonial rule until 1947.
Even divorce is taboo in large parts of India. Only around one in 100 marriages ends in divorce, which is explained by pressure from family and society to stay in unhappy marriages.
