Before marriage, many men proudly say, “I’m very cool, yaar. I don’t control. She’s independent.”
And for a while, it’s true. As a girlfriend, her choices feel exciting. Her independence feels modern. Her confidence feels attractive.
Then marriage happens. And slowly, without any announcement, the rules change.
Suddenly, the same man who once said “do whatever you want” starts adding conditions. Not aggressively. Casually. In familiar sentences Indian women hear every day. “Shaadi ke baad thoda adjust karna padta hai.” “Ab responsibility aa gayi hai.” “Wife ho, girlfriend thodi ho.”
Women don’t change after marriage. Expectations do. And this silent shift explains not just why many women hesitate to marry, but also why alimony exists—to balance losses that marriage quietly creates.
1. Clothing Was ‘Your Choice’ Until Marriage Made It ‘Our Image’
As a girlfriend, what she wore was never a problem. Short dress, sleeveless top, bold makeup—men often said, “I’m not insecure, I’m very open-minded.” After marriage, the same clothes suddenly invite comments. “Yeh thoda zyada nahi hai?” “Shaadi-shuda ladki ho.” “Log kya sochenge?”
Nothing about her clothing changed. What changed was the sense of entitlement over her body. Studies consistently show that married women face more social and spousal policing than unmarried women. Financial dependence makes it harder to resist this control, which is why alimony matters—it protects a woman’s right to walk away without losing her livelihood.
2. Career Was Attractive Until It Started Competing With Marriage
While dating, ambition is praised. “She’s so driven.” “I love independent women.” But after marriage, ambition comes with warnings. “Family first hona chahiye.” “Why so much pressure?” “Thoda slow ho jao.”
According to global labour data, women lose significant lifetime earnings due to marriage-related career breaks. These losses are not emotional; they are financial and permanent. Alimony exists because many women were encouraged, directly or indirectly-to sacrifice growth for the marriage, and those sacrifices don’t disappear when the marriage ends.
3. Friends Were Fine Until Marriage Expected Full-Time Availability
A girlfriend with friends is “balanced.” A wife with friends is “never home.” The same outings now sound irresponsible. “Har weekend bahar jaana zaroori hai?” “Ghar kaun dekhega?”
Marriage often expects women to centre their lives entirely around the household, while men’s social lives remain intact. When marriage shrinks a woman’s world, it also shrinks her economic safety net. Alimony ensures that choosing herself doesn’t mean choosing insecurity.
4. Confidence Was Attractive Until It Became ‘Ego’
When she spoke her mind as a girlfriend, it was confidence. As a wife, it becomes “attitude.” “Zyada bol rahi ho.” “Shaadi ke baad adjust karna hota hai.”
Research on marital dynamics shows women are expected to compromise more-emotionally and psychologically. Alimony recognises that emotional labour has value, and years spent silencing oneself come with real costs.
5. Money Was ‘Ours’ Until Control Became His
Dating phase sounds modern. “We’ll split.” “Everything equal.” After marriage, many women find their income absorbed into household expenses while decision-making remains unequal. “Savings ka kya zaroorat hai?” “Main handle kar leta hoon.”
World Bank data confirms women’s lifetime earnings remain significantly lower than men’s, largely due to marriage-related sacrifices. Alimony compensates for this financial erosion that happens quietly over years.
6. Being Herself Was Fine Until Marriage Wanted Her Smaller
She still wants space. She still wants respect. She still expects effort. But now she hears, “You’ve changed.” What’s really being asked is not change, but reduction. Marriage often rewards women for shrinking and punishes them for staying whole.
When a woman leaves such a marriage, she isn’t leaving love—she’s leaving loss of self. Alimony ensures she doesn’t lose financial stability along with emotional peace.
7. Effort Was Romantic Until Commitment Replaced It
Dating had effort. Marriage assumes permanence means effort is optional. “Ab toh shaadi ho gayi.” “Why are you expecting all this now?”
Studies show women initiate divorce more often not because they reject marriage, but because marriage demands more from them while giving less back. Alimony exists because commitment extracted unpaid labour, care, and compromise—mostly from women.
