It doesn’t take an equal rights activist to know that women do not just need an equal playing field, but a matching mentality too. Despite the slow yet positive evolution of women’s role in workplaces in the last few decades, progress is minimal. The effects of this fight remain incomplete unless everyone around the globe enjoys equal opportunities.
Are men insecure of letting women take over positions of power?
It is a common phenomena to come across a woman who earns less than a man for the same work. Eradication of sexism at work, in politics, and across cultures is nowhere near the ideal. Various studies have also pointed out that more than half the men are still ‘uncomfortable’ with the idea of being governed by an elected female leader.
The outdated ideas and norms about women still dominate societal discourse. It then becomes a poignant question which must be answered by people across the gender spectrum–are we holding on to ideas which restrict certain genders in their freedom and growth or is it the lack of true equality in our cultural institutions which mould the actions of men?
What happens when a wife earns equally to her husband or more?
Well, we have a study which helps us move a step towards the answer at least. A new study conducted by Bath University shed light on the relationship between financial equality and partnership. The study found that “men become increasingly stressed if their wives happen to earn more than 40 percent of the household income”. If this wasn’t enough to hurt the male ego, the study furthered pointed out that men’s stress peaks if they find themselves “economically dependent” on their partners.
In simple words, husbands stress over the fact that their wives could possibly be approaching economic parity with them. These findings seem to suggest that social norms about male members of the family running the household (read: only financially) and the traditional conventions about men earning more than women (in this case, their wives) can actually be dangerous for male health.
This can have a negative impact on both women’s growth and men’s mental health
The findings are derived from a research which involves over 6,000 heterosexuals participants, studied over the course of 15 years. The study’s conclusion includes that, “While there’s no empirical evidence to contrast against how nonbinary or homosexual couples compare, the headline is clear, and societal constructs of gender expectations are still having a massive toll on the male psyche. When you put it all together, it can only have a negative impact on the women and other men affected by those unhelpful expectations.”
According to the study, “Marriages where stress surpassed the 40 percent income level had increased rates of cheating and divorce”. While this is not a justified exhibition of resentment, it shows how it is more than men feeling bad–it is about them feeling inadequate. This turns them towards negative behavioral choices in response. This is not just about holding women back because of antiquated norms, but also affects the male mental health which is plagued by unnecessary stress stemming from unrealistic expectations.
More articles on the topic to help you get a better understanding:
Women Reveal How Earning More Than Their Partners Impacted Their Relationship
A New Version Of Monopoly Lets Women Earn More Than Men! #WageGapJustice
Indian Women Earn 19% Less Than Men, Reveals New Survey
Indian Women Are Spending 16 Billion Hours Each Day On Unpaid Domestic Work
Celebrity Women Who Earn More than Their Husbands
