resources and decision making Flashcards
what is resources and decision making?
This links to who controls the family’s income and who has the power to make decisions about how it is spent.
Barrett and McIntosh (1991)
Men usually make the decisions about spending money on important items.
Men gain far more from women’s domestic work that they give back in financial support.
The financial support that husbands give to their wives have ‘strings attached’
Kempson (1994)
Families do not share food and resources equally…
Amongst WC families, women sacrificed their own needs in order to make ends meet i.e. skipping meals.
Women often felt that they could not spend money on themselves as it should be spent on essentials for their children.
Feminists Pahl and Volger (1993)
They identify two main types of control over family income:
1. The allowance system
This is where men give their wives an allowance out of which they have to budget to meet the family’s needs, with the man retaining any surplus for himself.
2. Pooling
This is where both partners have access to income and joint responsibility for expenditure; for example a joint bank account.
Pooling
This is where both partners have access to income and joint responsibility for expenditure; for example a joint bank account.
It is often assumed that pooling indicates more equality in decision making and control over resources. HOWEVER, pooled income is often controlled by the husband which gives the men more power in making major financial decisions.
Research has supported this:
Pahl and Vogler (2007)
Hardill (1997)
Finch (1983)
Edgell (1980)
However, research has also rejected this view:
Laurie and Gershuny (2000)
Allowance system
This is where men give their wives an allowance out of which they have to budget to meet the family’s needs, with the man retaining any surplus for himself.
Hardill (1997)
That the important decisions were usually taken either by the man alone or jointly and that his career normally took priority when deciding whether to move house for a new job.
Edgell (1980)
Edgell argues that the reason men are likely to take the decisions is that they earn more. Women usually earn less than their husbands and, being dependent on them economically, have less say in decision-making.
- Very important decisions were either taken by the man alone or taken jointly but with the husband having the final say.
- Important decisions e.g about the children’s education were usually taken jointly and seldom by the wife alone.
- Less important decisions e.g about children’s clothes or food purchases were usually made by the wife.
Finch (1983)
That women’s lives tend to be structured around their husbands careers.
How do Laurie and Gershuny (2000) argue against the fact that men make the most decisions?
They found that by 1995, 70% of couples said they had an equal say in decisions.
what do feminists argue about decision making?
These studies suggest that the cultural definition of men as decision makers is deeply engrained in society for BOTH men and women. This is instilled through gender role socialisation. Until this is challenged, decision making is going to remain unequal!
Is Pooling the way forward to end inequality in the family? Personal life Perspective
Pooling does not always mean equality
Who controls the money? Does each partner contribute equally? If they earn different amounts but contribute the same is this still equality?
Keeping money separate does not always mean inequality
Vogler et al Cohabiting couples less likely to pool, but more likely to share domestic tasks equally than married couples.
Nyman (2003) suggests to understand equality we need to understand the meaning of money and roles for each individual and couple.
Smart (2007) Some gay/lesbian couples don’t care who controls the money – happy to leave it to their partner, they did not see who control money as defining inequality.
Weeks (2001) the typical pattern was pooling SOME money for shared expenses i.e. bills, but then keeping separate accounts for personal spending. This reflects a value of ‘co-dependence’.
Nyman (2003)
suggests to understand equality we need to understand the meaning of money and roles for each individual and couple.
Smart (2007)
Some gay/lesbian couples don’t care who controls the money – happy to leave it to their partner, they did not see who control money as defining inequality
Weeks (2001)
the typical pattern was pooling SOME money for shared expenses i.e. bills, but then keeping separate accounts for personal spending. This reflects a value of ‘co-dependence’.
