Chapter 9 Work, Marriage, and Family

Chapter Sections 9-1 Effects of Employment on Spouses 9-2 Effects of Employment on Children 9-3 Balancing Work and Family 9-4 Debt

Effects of Employment on Spouses How does employment affect marriage relationships? – The more money a partner makes, the more power that person has in the relationship. – Wives typically make the decisions in more areas of the relationship. – In ¼ of marriages, wives earn higher incomes than husbands.

Effects of Employment Dual-earner marriage: both husband and wife work outside the home to provide economic support for the family – Over 2/3 of marriages involve 2 earners. Can you put a price on the amount of work a stay home partner provides? – A stay-at-home parent provides an estimated $50,000 in services. – What kind of problems are created by not estimating such costs?

Effects of Employment Mommy track: stopping paid employment to spend time with young children Opting out: professional women leaving their careers and returning home to care for their children Careers may suffer from opting out. Homemakers tend to be happier than full-time working wives, but why?

Effects of Employment Dual-career marriage: a marriage in which both spouses pursue careers and maintain a life together that may or may not include dependents

Effects on Children High quality day-care: Produces less stress for children Results in less depression for mothers Is cost effective Is safe

Balancing Women deal with 3 shifts: First shift: work Second shift: house care and child care Third shift: expenditure of emotional energy by a spouse or parent in dealing with various issues in family living

Debt The recession beginning in mid-2008 has resulted in job lay-offs, housing foreclosures, and fear about the financial future. Poverty has increased. Cost of health care is a major cause of poverty.

Debt Poverty: the lack of resources necessary for material well-being Absolute poverty: the lack of resources that leads to hunger and physical deprivation. Relative poverty: a deficiency in material and economic resources compared with some other population Lets talk Feminism…

Debt

Poverty is associated with: Poorer physical and mental health Lower personal and marital satisfaction Lower life expectancy Substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce Questionable parenting practices Teen pregnancy

Debt One way to keep from slipping deeper into debt or poverty is to use credit wisely. Credit can be very expensive.

Debt Money issues can have serious effects on the couple relationship and family. Discuss debt and money issues often.