Sorry for my earlier flippant answer. Seriously, can you tell us what culturally this signifies? Is it someone who is doing something he should, like honouring his wife's family or providing for them, etc, or someone doing what he should NOT, like relying on them for his upkeep and income? If it is the latter, then the words "freeloader" or "sponger" come to mind. But without knowing the cultural context of the practice it is hard to say.