Women as Primary Breadwinners in Families Where Men Are Primary Caregivers

Over the past twenty years, researchers and other surveyors of the general population have noted changes in the stated ideals and, to some extent, in the behaviours of couples with regard to parenting and home management. The movement of women into the work force, notions of equal opportunity, ideals of egalitarianism and greater emphases on the role and responsibilities of fathers have the potential to shift traditional levels of responsibility on both the home and work fronts. In a five-year study of twenty-five families where the men had taken the position of primary caregiver, the experiences of the women who had become breadwinnners were explored. Previous studies of these families had neglected the women, focusing instead on the men. From the group under study, it appeared that despite the stress of separation from very young children, regret at missing the early developmental years, and negative social pressure to return to a more traditional role, none of these women took up this option. Many have significantly improved their career options and now perceive themselves as more forthright and assertive. These experiences are examined through the theories of socialisation and gender.