Wives are gaining economic influence while carrying a heavier burden at home

Home Research Topics Family & Relationships Household Structure & Family Roles

April 11, 2023

In a Growing Share of U.S. Marriages, Husbands and Wives Earn About the Same

Wives are gaining economic influence while carrying a heavier burden at home

Download

Wives are gaining economic influence while carrying a heavier burden at home

Attachment Info

In a Growing Share of U.S. Marriages, Husbands and Wives Earn About the Same
Husbands and wives have roughly equal earnings in a growing share of U.S. marriages
Black wives, college graduates more likely than other wives to be in egalitarian and breadwinner wife marriages
In egalitarian marriages, wives and husbands tend to earn about $60K each
Dual-provider marriages tend to have higher household incomes than sole-provider marriages
In egalitarian marriages, husbands spend more time on paid work and leisure than wives do
Large gap in hours spent on paid work when husbands are the primary earners
About half of Americans say they think most men would prefer to earn more money than their wife
More than half of U.S. adults say society values men’s contributions at work more than what they do at home
Majority of Americans say children are better off when their mother and father both focus equally on their job and taking care of the children and home
ST_23.02.28_Breadwinner Wife_Featured image
Wives who are the primary earner in their marriage spend more time on caregiving and housework, less time on leisure than their husbands do

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries

Research Topics

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

About

Terms & Conditions

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

Feedback

Careers