Dual-career couples and work-life diversity: Is it a signifier of happy and healthy families?

By Dhinesha Ruwanthi Perera

The question arises “Is there any discrimination when either spouse stays back home without doing a paid-job?” In response to this anomaly two different social systems have emerged. The ‘right’ embraces that as traditions show that the male is the primary bread winner and alternatively the ‘left’ holds that dual-career couples enjoy healthier marriages (Cooke, 2010). Discrimination means the noting of a difference between the roles of husband and wife resulting in dissimilarities. 

Providing contrary evidence, a recent large-scale study in westernised countries (UK, USA and Germany) believe that despite females playing the role of primary bread winner it had no impact on the happiness of the family (Parker-Pope, 2010). Thus research still continues especially in the Asian region on this wavering question and the validity of the two social systems.

As at present in the USA 22% of families (compared to 7% in 1970) are supported by couples in which the wives are the primary bread winner sustaining the family. This is grounded on weak evidence that males are less healthy and cannot sustain balanced, happy and healthy families. Contrary findings show that males bring in their value for the family by employment and earning of money. However, females generally do not indulge in relaxation and free time, but “slaves” for the betterment of the family by working all the time (National Post-Canada, 2010).

Families are the building block of society and it also symbolises an organisation. Drawing parallels from organisations, families comprise of individuals working collaboratively towards achieving a common goal. Family is a community comprising of diversity. This behaviour signifies two levels of diversity in families as well. These are surface-level diversity and deep-level diversity. Gender, race, ethnicity or age is regarded as surface-level diversity. Deep-level diversity is trifurcated into values, personality and work preference dimensions. While surface-level diversity regards basic aspects related to the spouses, deep-level diversity unfolds similarities between the spouses bridging any form of discrimination.    

The contribution of spouses towards the happiness and healthy family relationship can be expressed in five different ways. These are power distance, individualism v. collectivism, masculinity v. femininity, uncertainty avoidance and long-term v. short-term (Hofstede, 2010). Power distance between the spouses could be interpreted as high or low in different situations. High power distance depicts the allegiance of one towards the other. The breadwinner generally exercises greater power and authority over the unemployed party resulting in inequalities of power. This tolerated gap in power between spouses discourages equality and opportunities for the spouses. However, dual career couples could enjoy lower power distance as inequalities seemingly bridge. 

The family-based work preferences adopted by spouses are two folds – single bread winner and dual-career spouses. Single bread winners depict individualism, but works towards a common goal of marital stability. In the instance of dual-career spouses they preserve the family and protect each other’s interests collectively. Therefore, collectivism of dual-career spouses circles around collective economic and moral goals, while protecting their individual rights.  

Contrary to the view that men and women are equal, masculinity role embraces achievement, power and control (Judge et al., 2013). In cases where males are the breadwinner they could impose such masculine personality values. However, where the wife dominates as the breadwinner her role in the family is equal to men in all respects. Dual-career spouses would show little differentiation between the roles of husband and wife towards the happiness of the family. 

Dual-career couples assume that structured family systems are safe and healthy. The spouses tend to avoid any uncertainty that may arise within the family. On the other side, risk taking and ready acceptance of change is evident in single breadwinner situations. Unstructured and ambiguous family situations are experienced as only a single spouse is employed. However, the inter-relationship between spouses creates dependency and reduces any anxiety that may stifle the happiness and stability of the family. 

In plethora of families the wife’s devotion is towards traditional family values. Thus the husband is the primary breadwinner. While respecting local traditions, the unemployed spouse looks for long-term family benefits. The wife would cultivate thrift and persistence, further strengthening family relationships. Dual-career couples may not actualise long-term goals; but instead value the here and now occurrences. The long-term orientation of spouses embraces both financial and sentimental aspects associated with family, where the latter appreciates faster. 

Against this backdrop the role of spouses and its impact on family is a timely and pertinent subject of deliberation. The varied behaviour of dual-career couples and single breadwinner spouses would therefore differentially impact family happiness, stability and health. Deep-level diversity of spouses could reasonably answer the question posed at the inception. As Asians, we could expect an imminent change in work-life diversity in the context of dual-career couples. Dual career spouses and resulting work-life diversities among them could significantly impact the health and happiness of families. 

(The writer is a Lawyer by profession, University Lecturer and Researcher in Organisational Behaviour).