A man in the town of Sonnino, in the Lazio district of Italy, made a formal complaint against his 40-year-old wife. The man claimed he has suffered as a result of his wife not cooking and cleaning properly.
RT reports a preliminary hearing was held before Judge Mara Mattioli of the Court of Latina. Based upon an investigation by a prosecutor and the evidence of the 47-year-old husband, the judge found there was sufficient evidence to send the wife to trial.
According to The Local, an English publication in Italy, the husband stated he had been insulted by his wife’s negligence for more than two years. He alleges his wife does not cook properly and much of the food he buys, especially produce, ends up being thrown in the garbage.
The husband also claims his wife sometimes refuses to let him sleep in their bedroom, forcing him to live in conditions “with poor hygiene” as his wife does not properly clean their home.
In 2013, the Organization for Economic Cooperation surveyed 28 countries as to the gender gap regarding work and unpaid housework. The survey revealed the largest gender gap was found in Italy where, on average, women spend 21 more hours per week on housework than do men.
And last summer a committee of the European Parliament recommended holding a campaign to get men to do 50 percent of the housework in order to achieve gender equality.
The woman’s trial is scheduled to be held on Oct. 12. If convicted she could be jailed for between two and 6 years for her negligence.