Getting Bread and Paying Bills: The Relationship between Breadwinners, Household Expenses, and Gender Ideology

• In Event: 40820 - Section on Sociology of Sex and Gender Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 8: Family and Gendered Division of Labor

Abstract

While we know quite a bit about the impact of earnings, gender, and household division of labor, less work has been done regarding the structure of household finances. In particular, as women’s earning potential increases and more households have egalitarian earnings or even wives as a primary breadwinner, the structure of household finances may provide important insights into the role gender plays in modern relationships. In this study, we survey married individuals in both different-sex and same-sex households about their breadwinner status, gender ideology, and handling of household expenses to gain insight into how earning status and gender roles impact the functioning of the household. We also interview current undergraduate students, particularly those who anticipate high earnings, about their expectations for future relationships and how they hope to approach finances with a future partner. In doing so, we identify discontinuities between expectations and practice, which may improve our understanding of how ideologies shift when people begin a relationship. Understanding the impact of gender on the financial aspect of the marriage may also provide insight into other aspects of marriage and relationships, and in turn the current structure of gender and power more broadly.

Authors

• Hannah Regan, Case Western Reserve University

• Kate Jennie Freeman, Case Western Reserve University