Couples - Resources and Decision-Making in Households Flashcards
What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state that men gain more of?
State men gain more from women’s domestic work than they give in financial support
What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state about the financial support given by husbands to their wife?
Financial support given by husbands to their wives is unpredictable and comes with ‘strings attached’
What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state about spendings decisions in couples?
Men usually make important spending decisions
Which sociologists identify two types of control over family income?
Feminist sociologists Pahl and Vogler (1993)
2 types of control over family income according to P+V
Allowance system
Pooling
Allowance system
Breadwinner (usually husband) gives partner (usually wife) an allowance which they have to budget to meet family’s needs
Which sociologists used data from the International Social Survey Programme to find 5 money management systems?
Vogler, Brockmann and Wiggins (2007)
5 money management systems that V+B+W found in 2007
Female whole wage management system
Male whole wage system/housekeeping allowance
Joint pooling system
Partial pooling system
Independent management system
Female whole wage management system
Woman manages all money
Male whole wage management system / housekeeping allowance
Man manages all money
Joint pooling system
All money is pooled and shared equally
Partial pooling system
Money is pooled but each partner keeps some money
Independent management system
No money is pooled
What couples is pooling more common among?
Couples where both partners are working full-time
Where pooled income is controlled by the husband (male whole wage management system), who mostly makes the major financial decisions?
The man
What did P+V find about who makes the major financial decisions even when money is pooled?
Even when it’s pooled, men usually make major important financial decisions
What did Edgell find about who makes different decisions in professional couples from their 1980 study?
Very important decisions either taken by man alone or joint with husband having final say
Important decisions usually taken jointly
Less important decisions often taken by woman
Very important decisions examples
Financial decisions
Job changes
House moves
Important decisions examples
Children’s education
Holiday destination
Less important decisions examples
Home decor
Children’s clothing
Food purchases
Why does Edgell believe that men usually make the biggest decisions?
Because they tend to earn more (money=power)
What contradicting evidence to Edgell did Gershuny find in their 1995 study?
70% of couples said they had an equal say in decisions
Material explanation for decision making
Most important decisions made by highest earners
What explanation for decision making do feminists agree with?
Cultural explanation
