Harvard study: Women more likely to divorce men who don't live up to the breadwinner stereotype

[renie408]

3. There is a difference between not being the 'breadwinner' and not being able to hold

down a job. A man can still work full time and not be the primary breadwinner for his family. This is suggesting that women expect men to work. I am a woman. I can verify this anecdotally. Throughout the years, sometimes I was the breadwinner and sometimes my husband was. But he always worked and I do think I would have a problem if he didn't.

>>'Although much of the responsibility for negotiating that balance falls to women, my results suggest one way that expectations about gender and family roles and responsibilities affect men's lives, too: men who aren't able to sustain full-time work face heightened risk of divorce.

'Expectations of wives' homemaking may have eroded but the husband breadwinner norm persists.'<<

People connect to mates who can enhance their lives in one way or another. Helping to contribute to the family coffers definitely constitutes a method of enhancement. If you can't hold down a job, that's a little different from not being the breadwinner. I think 'breadwinner' and I am thinking major producer of income. Perhaps the wife earns the greater income, but may still want a husband who is a productive member of the household and society.

BTW...I have always worked, too, and worked hard. I think my husband would have a problem if I didn't work to contribute to our family and he would be right.