The Business of Marriage: Modern Approach
A statement regarding a married woman’s obligation to contribute to household finances (when she does not choose to be fiscally independent) was stated in yesterday’s halachah (Halachah #766): If the wife’s supplementary income is needed, she is required to work, and her salary belongs to her husband.
Early poskim are very specific about the types of work a husband can insist his wife perform, and limit the effort she must invest, as well. The Rashba (13th century authority) lists the occupations women are exempt from: construction, agriculture and banking—among others—that were traditionally men’s work. The Rambam (12th century) lists the gold standard for women’s work—spinning, weaving and other established feminine vocations.
In today’s day and age, the line between men’s and women’s work has blurred significantly, and many new careers in technology, education, administration and business have opened up wide for women. Although religiously observant women perform successfully in these professions and others, the question must be asked: Is a woman obligated to enter these fields to support her family, and if she does so, does her salary belong to her husband?
Contemporary poskim address this question: The Beis Meir (early 20th century posek) states that the types of work that are mandatory for women are only those listed by the Rambam, although other authorities disagree, and maintain that all work that is customarily done by women in their particular locale should be included.
However, there are other considerations that exempt a woman from seeking employment. There are courtesies extended to the wife who is called akeres habayis (mainstay of the home). The Rambam quotes the pasuk from Tehillim, “Kol kevudah bas melech penima” (the honor of the king’s daughter [the Jewish woman] is within) with regard to women in public situations, which many poskim interpret as cautionary counsel for women working outside the home (see Halachah #601). Thus a woman can't be obligated to work outside her house. Additionally, work done out of home often interferes with her home duties. She is exempt due to her primary responsibility to her household, emotionally and physically.
Another element that frees a wife from the onus of work outside the home is time-related. A woman need only work standard hours, and her household and child-raising duties usually exceed the typical forty-hour week. Even a woman who is so efficient that she “gets it all done” in record time and has free hours for employment, would need to work extra hard and after hours. There is a halachic dispute regarding income received due to ha’adafah al y’dei hadechak (pressure from overload). Accordingly, a woman may argue “kim li” (“I am of this opinion”—a statement garnering support from a minority opinion—see Halachah #691 on the kim li concept) and keep her earnings as her own
Due to these and many other reasons—including the exemptions mentioned in Halachah #766 that apply today as ever—there is no halachic imposition on women to work outside the home to support their families in this day and age.