When an in-law becomes a slave

A woman narrates that her younger sister, who is a graduate but yet to get a job stays with her. Her sister helps out with house chores when she is at work but doesn’t wash her husband’s clothes (as she does that herself). Now, the lady’s husband has taken offence in his sister-in-law not washing […]

A woman narrates that her younger sister, who is a graduate but yet to get a job stays with her. Her sister helps out with house chores when she is at work but doesn’t wash her husband’s clothes (as she does that herself). Now, the lady’s husband has taken offence in his sister-in-law not washing his clothes and has given an ultimatum that she either washes his clothes or leaves his house. Now, the question is, is the husband right to say that or is the sister in-law wrong for not washing his clothes.
Bimpe Adekunle, 37-year-old caterer, says, there is no smoke without fire and it applies in this situation. “There is something fishy going on right under her nose. I suspect that her husband has asked her sister out and she refused, so he’s now looking for a way to punish her. The lady in question should have a heart-to-heart talk with her sister, to know if anything has happened between both of them. Take note that sometimes we don’t need to hear things word for word before we know what is going on. For me, I think there is more to this so, I’ll suggest you prepare your mind for a probably shocking revelation.”
Lizzy Idoko, 39-year-old accountant, asks “What on earth can make a man and his sister-in-law haggle over the washing or not washing of his clothes? May be he is not comfortable with her staying in his house anymore. Since his wife washes his clothes he should let the girl be. Does he even realize that his wife is being respectful by washing his clothes and not giving it to her sister to wash?”
Chiamaka Chidi, 39-year-old journalist, asks “Is his sister in-law his slave? Why should he insist that she washes his clothes? Even as a sister, there is a limit to which her biological sister can give her chores to do. She does the chores out of respect for her elder sister and nothing else. She can only do things out of compassion and voluntarily and not out of compulsion. Sit your husband down and discuss with him on the dos and don’ts when it comes to in-laws.”
Sadiya Ibrahim, 38-year-old designer ponders on why some men believe a wife is supposed to do everything notwithstanding that she’s working. “I don’t know why some men will get married and feel it is a wife’s duty to do all the house chores in the house including washing of his clothes. In my opinion, it shouldn’t be so. Instead, if a wife does your laundry, you should be thankful and not take it as a right.”
Fatima Abubakar, 39-year-old lecturer, concludes by saying “Relationships differ, but having a younger sister who stays with me and decides to do house chores and washing clothes in the house shouldn’t be an issue. Honestly, it’s not an issue but then no husband should make it a point of duty or take it as a right and enforce a sister or even sister-in-law to do his laundry for him. Whatever the case may be, it’s normal to ask her to do laundry for you but it’s not to be forced, this way, there will be mutual respect.”