Gender equality : a comparative study between one-earner and dual-earner families with dependent children

Abstract

One of the most striking changes after the Second World War is the increase in the number of families in which the wife works outside the home, i.e. being a part of the labour market. The norm had been the traditional nuclear family, which was made up of the husband whose role was that of a breadwinner and the wife who stayed at home with the children. But throughout recent decades there has been a rapid expansion of women's employment and this is becoming more widespread in various countries, including Malta. This study seeks to verify or disprove the theory that gender equality is more visible in dual-earner families rather than in one-earner families. Gender equality would be studied in relation ·to four main issues, i.e. housework, childcare, :financial management and decision taking. When compared to one-earner families, are men in dual-earner families sharing household duties and care functions? Are they stepping out of their traditional "work" role to be concerned with the "family"? Has the fact that woman goes out to work, meaning that she is economic independent, give her more power as regards financial management and decision taking? This study aims to verify or disprove another theory, that the level of gender equality is higher amongst families living in the North than those living in the South.