Husbands & wives : the dynamics of married living

Abstract

This monograph reports on findings about husband and wife relationships in Detroit and rural areas between 1950-1959. Interviews with a random sample of 731 wives from metropolitan Detroit and 178 wives from rural areas in southeastern Michigan provide the data. The structure of husband-wife relationships is discussed in terms of the relative dominance of the 2 partners in decision making and the participation of each in household tasks. The function that marriage performs is analyzed with attention to economic sustenance childbearing companionship emotional support and love and affection. Stresses and strengths in American marriages are pinpointed. The power to make decisions stems primarily from the resources which the individual can provide to meet the needs of the marriage partner and to upgrade his decision making skills. The division of labor in modern families coincides with that found in traditional families. Major disagreements in urban families occur with money (42%) recreation (30%) children (29%) personality (28%) and inlaws (10%). Weaknesses in American marriages occur in Negro marriages and to a lesser extent in low-status quarters. Incompatibility creates extra stresses when couples marry with major differences in age education and religion.

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