Earning Wives Create Marital Trouble

Marriage And Beyond

oi-Staff

By Staff

Monday, February 15, 2010, 14:53

Expectations of a married couple from each other determines whether wife out earning husband is a marital trouble. This was a statement made by two financial therapists at Kansas State University.

According to them when wife is the primary breadwinner, whether it's an issue or not the marriage depends largely on expectations.

"If men and women have the expectation that it's ok for a spouse to earn more, it's not going to affect their relationship like it would if they go into the marriage with the expectation that the husband will have the job that pays more," said Kristy Archuleta.

Archuleta is of the view that wives earning more money is not big problem among couples she works with. But it may make a difference how wives end up with greater earning power.

If it's always been that way or if it's a temporary solution then expectations may not temper any potential problems. Not so much as it will be if it's an unexpected and unwanted shifting of roles.

A study published in January by the Pew Research Center showed that 22 percent of men earned less money than their wives in 2007 -- a shift from 1970 when it was just 4 percent of husbands.

The Pew researchers believe that the recession following the 2007 study will make that percentage increase.

If couples see the wife's larger salary as a potential minefield, Archuleta and Britt said husbands and wives should address the problems from the start. If things aren't laid out in the open, it creates a lot trouble later.