30 December 2008, 12:37 pm
This is an article I saw in several places on the internet: A new study conducted at Iowa State University proves what married couples may have long known: Women wear the pants in the family. Men still wield more power in the workplace, but the adage seems true, "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." The Iowa State University News Service reports that a study of 72 happily married couples proved that women tend to have more influence, and exhibit more domineering behavior in situational discussions in the home. Regardless of who brought up a topic, the women had a great deal of influence over the men and the final outcome of the discussion. Associate Professor of Psychology David Vogel commented to the News Service that the research indicates women are gaining power in the home. They are taking responsibility and exerting power over men, in marriages that are relatively satisfied. According to Vogel's comments, the study indicates a shift in gender roles in the home. (In the research, satisfied couples were defined as couples who were not in counseling at the time of the study.) As a women's historian, I don't believe there has been as much of a shift in gender roles, as in the perception of gender roles in the home. The reality is that women have exerted power and influence for a long time. The difference may be in the willingness of this study's participants to answer questions honestly, and engage in discussions with their spouse openly. The greater shift may be in men's acknowledging what women have long known: Women take a great deal of responsibility in the family relationship. According to the Iowa State News Service, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Megan Murphy, who co-led the study with David Vogel, suggests to the Iowa State News Service that, "Women are responsible for overseeing the relationship -- making sure the relationship runs, that everything gets done, and that everybody's happy." Murphy continues, asserting that women are taking greater responsibility. That's interesting, but now I need something clarified. If this article is true and in most marriages men are going along with the woman's decisions, and if all the sources that say 80% of divorces are filed by women are also true wouldn't it be safe to say that by and large women are divorcing their husbands citing unhappiness when it is THE WIFE'S OWN DECISIONS THAT HAVE MADE HER UNHAPPY. Face it, for any given statement to be true their are certain sets of circumstances that MUST exist. Perhaps people who favor feelings over reason ought not be making too many decisions, let alone the majority of them.... Read More »
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