This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by GAGER, C. T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Role of Valued Outcomes, Justifications, and Comparison Referents in Perceptions of Fairness Among Dual-Earner Couples

Princeton University

This research examines factors that may explain why full-time employed wives, despite performing more housework than their full-time employed husbands, fail to report that an unequal division of household labor is unfair. Using interview data for 25 dual-earner couples, this article explores the relationships of valued outcomes, justifications, and choice of comparison referents to perceptions of fairness in the division of household labor. The data show that both husbands and wives positively value some aspects and outcomes of household tasks. The data also provide a basis for describing how spouses' use of justifications helps to explain the maintenance of inequality in the division of labor. Finally, the data demonstrate that spouses' peer comparisons play an important role in shaping their evaluations of fairness in household labor. The implications of these findings for survey data analysis and future survey data collection efforts are discussed.

Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 19, No. 5, 622-648 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/019251398019005007


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. Gordon and K. S. Whelan-Berry Contributions to Family and Household Activities by the Husbands of Midlife Professional Women Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2005; 26(7): 899 - 923. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Dixon and M. Wetherell On Discourse and Dirty Nappies: Gender, the Division of Household Labour and the Social Psychology of Distributive Justice Theory Psychology, April 1, 2004; 14(2): 167 - 189. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Himsel and W. A. Goldberg Social Comparisons and Satisfaction with the Division of Housework: Implications for Men's and Women's Role Strain Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2003; 24(7): 843 - 866. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Nordenmark and C. Nyman Fair or Unfair? Perceived Fairness of Household Division of Labour and Gender Equality among Women and Men: The Swedish Case European Journal of Women's Studies, May 1, 2003; 10(2): 181 - 209. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. T. Gager and L. Sanchez Two as One?: Couples' Perceptions of Time Spent Together, Marital Quality, and the Risk of Divorce Journal of Family Issues, January 1, 2003; 24(1): 21 - 50. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. DOUCET "You See the Need Perhaps More Clearly Than I Have": Exploring Gendered Processes of Domestic Responsibility Journal of Family Issues, April 1, 2001; 22(3): 328 - 357. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. W. GRAHAM, J. L. FISCHER, D. CRAWFORD, J. FITZPATRICK, and K. BINA Parental Status, Social Support, and Marital Adjustment Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2000; 21(7): 888 - 905. [Abstract] [PDF]