American Marriages Are Becoming More Financially Equal

In a growing share of U.S. marriages (29%), husbands and wives earn about the same.

What’s going on:

Over the past 50 years, the number of women earning the same, or more than, their husbands has tripled — resulting in more financially “egalitarian” marriages, according to the Pew Research Center.

Today, in 29% of opposite-sex marriages both spouses earn nearly the same; which, since 1972, is a decrease from the 85% of marriages with the husband as the main or only breadwinner.

Why it matters:

In a marriage based on true equality, where both spouses are earning a comparable salary, the traditional roles of who does what at home are being challenged.

With the best interests of their children in mind, most Americans believe that both parents should split their time and energy evenly between their job and their family.

How it’ll impact the future:

Although the financial contributions of couples in marriage have grown to be more equitable, the way they divide their time between paid work and domestic life remains skewed. Women often take on the majority of the housework and childcare, while men spend more of their hours devoted to work and leisure.

Americans widely believe that society values men’s accomplishments in the workplace more than their contributions in the home; however, marriages where the spouses make near-equal contributions have seen an impressive rise in recent years.