Couples - Resources and Decision-Making in Households

Question 1

What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state that men gain more of?

Answer 1

State men gain more from women’s domestic work than they give in financial support

Question 2

What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state about the financial support given by husbands to their wife?

Answer 2

Financial support given by husbands to their wives is unpredictable and comes with ‘strings attached’

Question 3

What do Barrett and McIntosh (1991) state about spendings decisions in couples?

Answer 3

Men usually make important spending decisions

Question 4

Which sociologists identify two types of control over family income?

Answer 4

Feminist sociologists Pahl and Vogler (1993)

Question 5

2 types of control over family income according to P+V

Answer 5

Allowance system
Pooling

Question 6

Allowance system

Answer 6

Breadwinner (usually husband) gives partner (usually wife) an allowance which they have to budget to meet family’s needs

Question 7

Which sociologists used data from the International Social Survey Programme to find 5 money management systems?

Answer 7

Vogler, Brockmann and Wiggins (2007)

Question 8

5 money management systems that V+B+W found in 2007

Answer 8

Female whole wage management system
Male whole wage system/housekeeping allowance
Joint pooling system
Partial pooling system
Independent management system

Question 9

Female whole wage management system

Answer 9

Woman manages all money

Question 10

Male whole wage management system / housekeeping allowance

Answer 10

Man manages all money

Question 11

Joint pooling system

Answer 11

All money is pooled and shared equally

Question 12

Partial pooling system

Answer 12

Money is pooled but each partner keeps some money

Question 13

Independent management system

Answer 13

No money is pooled

Question 14

What couples is pooling more common among?

Answer 14

Couples where both partners are working full-time

Question 15

Where pooled income is controlled by the husband (male whole wage management system), who mostly makes the major financial decisions?

Answer 15

The man

Question 16

What did P+V find about who makes the major financial decisions even when money is pooled?

Answer 16

Even when it’s pooled, men usually make major important financial decisions

Question 17

What did Edgell find about who makes different decisions in professional couples from their 1980 study?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Very important decisions examples

Answer 18

Financial decisions
Job changes
House moves

Question 19

Important decisions examples

Answer 19

Children’s education
Holiday destination

Question 20

Less important decisions examples

Answer 20

Home decor
Children’s clothing
Food purchases

Question 21

Why does Edgell believe that men usually make the biggest decisions?

Answer 21

Because they tend to earn more (money=power)

Question 22

What contradicting evidence to Edgell did Gershuny find in their 1995 study?

Answer 22

70% of couples said they had an equal say in decisions

Question 23

Material explanation for decision making

Answer 23

Most important decisions made by highest earners

Question 24

What explanation for decision making do feminists agree with?

Answer 24

Cultural explanation

Question 25

What are inequalities in decision making a result of according to feminists?

Answer 25

Due to the cultural definition of men as decision making that is engrained in both men and women in patriarchal society

Question 26

When will decision making become equal according to feminists?

Answer 26

When cultural definition of men as decision makers is challenged

Question 27

How did Vogler find that partners keeping their money separately doesn’t always mean inequality?

Answer 27

Found cohabiting couples were less likely to pool their money but more likely to share domestic tasks equally

Question 28

Personal life perspective on money

Answer 28

Perspective focuses on the meanings couples give to who controls money

Question 29

Example of how meanings that couples give to money in relationship cannot be taken for granted (personal life perspective)

Answer 29

We might associate inequality with one person controlling the money but other couples may not

Question 30

What did Smart find about same-sex couples? (Personal life perspective)

Answer 30

Found they often give different meanings to control of money within a relationship as they attach no importance to who controls the money

Question 31

Quote by Smart about same-sex couples’ control of money

Answer 31

They don’t go into relationships with ‘historical, gendered, historical baggage of cultural meanings around money’ that see money as source of power

Question 32

What is essential according to personal life perspective supporters?

Answer 32

To always start from the personal meanings of actors involved in situations